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A shell is a user interface that acts as an interpreter between a user and an operating system, allowing you to interact with the computer by executing commands. It can be a command-line interface (CLI), where you type commands, or a graphical user interface (GUI), which uses icons and menus. Common shells include Bash, Zsh, and PowerShell, and they provide functionalities like running scripts, managing files, and automating tasks.

How it works

Interface: The shell is the outermost layer of the operating system, providing the user with a way to access its services.

Command interpreter: When you type a command, the shell interprets it and passes the instruction to the operating system's kernel for execution.

Terminal vs. Shell: The terminal is the application that displays the shell, providing the window where you can type commands. The shell itself is the program that runs the commands.