The Terminal
Understanding the Terminal
The terminal (also called shell, console, or command line) is a text-based interface to your computer. Instead of clicking icons, you type commands. It's faster, more powerful, and essential for servers that have no graphical interface.
Anatomy of a Command
bash
# The structure of a Linux command:
# command [options] [arguments]
ls # command only
ls -l # command + option
ls -la /home # command + options + argument
echo "hello" # command + argumentEvery command follows this pattern: the command name comes first, then optional flags/options (usually starting with
-), then arguments (files, directories, or text).The Prompt
The prompt (
user@codewithmuh:~$) tells you who you are, what machine you're on, and your current directory. The ~ symbol means your home directory. The $ means you're a regular user (# would mean root/admin).bash
# Understanding the prompt:
# user@codewithmuh:~$
# │ │ │ │
# │ │ │ └─ $ = regular user (# = root)
# │ │ └─── ~ = home directory
# │ └──────────────── hostname
# └───────────────────── usernameTip:Try typing commands in the terminal. If you make a mistake, just try again! Use 'clear' to clean up the screen.
Terminalbash
Welcome to the Linux Terminal Simulator!
Type commands below. Use 'help' to see available commands.
Try: