What exactly is dubstep?

For that matter what does IDM refer to? Are they the same thing?

they arent the same thing.

dubstep is a relatively new genre of electronic music that focuses on bass and lies in the 140bpm range. it usually features 1/2 time drums and draws a lot of production influence from dub reggae that originated in the 1960s. it was born in south london as uk garage and dnb got darker and darker toward the year 2000. In the past few years, americans have mutated the genre into a more aggressive sound that uses mid-ranged synths and an LFO to create a really obnoxious wobbly chainsaw sound.

idm typically features a new or more complex or experimental take on genres such as techno, drum and bass, or ambient. Happened in the 90s, ppl are over it. No one calls music IDM anymore when referring to any music made in recent years.

As a concept yes. Jamaican Dub in origin is art of combining sampled tracks using characteristc effects and delays.
Same with modern "dubstep" i guess
For nice mix of both styles check "RadicalGuru" on yt
Bless!

Dubstep is techno. Some music snob thought it would be cool to label every techno song as a different genre.

dubstep is not techno
u could clasify Burzum in Rock music when u think that way
dont be so ignorant man, i dont listen to dubstep either but i try not to talk about sth i have no idea about

Dude....any kind of music can be defined down to 1 genre. and this shit is TECHNO.

Dubstep is not music.
it's crap , given to the brainless youth of today. just like justin bieber. tough i prefer justin bieber over dubstep.

this

No

Thats like saying the jonas brothers and nirvana make the same music cuz both use guitar / drum / vocals