Introduction

What is the Terminal?

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