[2] defaults is also able to read and write any plist specified with a path,[1] although Apple plans to phase out this utility in a future version.
[2][4] Common uses of defaults: DOMAIN should be replaced by the plist file name sans extension ('.plist').
To reset Address Book's preferences, either the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.AddressBook.plist must be removed or the following command issued: defaults prints values in the OpenStep format.
It allows the VALUE to be arrays and dicts, as long as they conform to old-style plist syntax.
[12] Apple does not publish a complete list of these "secret knobs", but their support site does occasionally provide defaults commands for user to change a certain setting, such as the creation of .DS_Store.