Overview of Bash
Before writing your first Linux command, it helps to understand the tool you are using to type it. That tool is the shell — and on Linux, the most common shell is Bash.
This chapter explains what a shell is, how Bash compares to other shells, and how to get the most out of your terminal from day one.
What’s in This Chapter
| Topic | What You Learn |
|---|---|
| What is a Shell | Shells as command interpreters, startup files |
| Bash vs sh vs zsh vs fish | When to use which shell |
| Bash Versions | Why macOS ships Bash 3, how to check and upgrade |
| The Terminal Emulator | Terminal vs shell vs console, keyboard shortcuts |
| Interactive vs Non-Interactive Shell | How mode affects what gets loaded |
| Practice Exercises | Exercises to reinforce the chapter |
Next → What is a Shell
