The malleable paste formed by mixing all the ingredients in a bread recipe. After being baked, this mixture of ingredients can be called bread.

Doughs can vary depending on the ingredients used, the type of leavening agent, its temperature and how it is mixed. Each one of those variables can be manipulated to produce a certain outcome in the final baked product.

In bread making the dough is put through several processes such as mixing or putting it to rest in order for it to have the ideal properties for baking. All of these processes can be put under the definition of "dough development".