The Unix Terminal and Shell

Terminal

• Common name for the interface that allows you to input commands and see the output from commands.

Command prompt

• Sequence of one or more characters, such as $ or % in combination with other customizable elements, such as the username or the current working directory.

• It indicates readiness to accept commands.

Shell

• Command line interpreter.

• Users operate the computer by entering command input as text for a shell to execute or by creating text scripts of one or more such commands.