The Terminal

What is the Terminal?

Terminal Window

Terminal is a modern version of an 'original' User Interface for Unix-based computers. At that time a Text Terminal is all you would have seen, no windows, no mouse. Because of this history, it's very powerful but sometimes a little cryptic.

Don't worry though, with a bit of practice you'll be flying around like a pro!

Although they technically mean slightly different things, the following terms are types of Terminal Environment

• Shell

• bash ('Bourne-Again shell')

• Command Line

• CLI (Command Line Interface)

• Text Terminal

• DOS Prompt (on windows machines)

• SSH (on remote machines)

• Bourne Shell

• csh

• ksh

• sh

• UNIX Shell