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# System prepended metadata

title: Book - Terminal

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# Book - Terminal

#### What is the terminal and why do we use it?
The terminal (also called the command line or shell) is a text-based interface for interacting with an operating system. It allows you to enter commands using a keyboard and see the results of those commands on the screen. It is often used for advanced tasks that are not easily done through a graphical user interface (GUI).

#### How do I start the terminal on my computer?
The process for starting the terminal will depend on the operating system you are using. On a Windows system, you can typically find the terminal by searching for "command prompt" or "powershell" in the start menu. On a Mac, you can find the terminal by searching for "terminal" in the Applications folder or by using the spotlight search (command + space). On a Linux system, the terminal is usually easily accessible from the start menu or by using a keyboard shortcut (such as ctrl + alt + T).

#### How do I navigate in the terminal?
To navigate in the terminal, you can use the cd command followed by the name of the directory you want to go to. For example, cd Documents will take you to the "Documents" directory. You can also use the ls command to list the files and directories in the current directory, and the pwd command to show the full path of the current directory.

#### What is a command?
A command is a specific instruction that you can enter in the terminal to perform a task or action. Each command consists of a command name followed by any necessary arguments or options. For example, the cd command changes the current working directory, and the ls command lists the files and directories in the current directory.

#### How do I enter a command in the terminal?
To enter a command in the terminal, simply type the command followed by any necessary arguments or options, and press the enter key to execute the command.


