Why did this command ":(){ :|: & };:" make my system lag so bad I had to reboot?

Posted by blade19899 on Ask Ubuntu See other posts from Ask Ubuntu or by blade19899
Published on 2012-07-04T11:29:15Z Indexed on 2012/07/04 15:23 UTC
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Danger!

Do not run this command to "test" it unless you are prepared for a crash and/or force-rebooting your system

I was in my Virtualbox running 12.04 trying to compile an app, and while waiting I happened to chance upon a forum where a comment said:

Try :(){ :|: & };:
Fun, too, and doesn't need root.

Without thinking I ran it in my gnome-terminal it made my 12.04 virtualbox lag so badly I had to shut it down. My question is what does this command do?

:(){ :|: & };:

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