Terminal vs Shell vs Command Line vs PowerShell vs zsh/bash
These words all describe the same basic idea, just different layers
"Terminal" is the window/app you open. "Shell" is the actual program running inside that window that reads and executes your commands. "Command line" is a general term for this whole style of typed-command interaction. People often use all three words interchangeably in casual conversation — you don't need to be strict about it.
Mac uses zsh, Windows uses PowerShell
"zsh" and "bash" are two popular shell programs used on Mac and Linux (zsh is the current Mac default). "PowerShell" is Microsoft's shell for Windows. They understand slightly different command syntax, but the basic ideas (navigate folders, run programs, see output) are identical across all of them.
Why this matters for you
When a tutorial says "open your terminal and run this command", it usually works the same on Mac's zsh whether you call it "Terminal" or "the shell". On Windows, if a command doesn't work in PowerShell, sometimes the tutorial was written for Mac/Linux syntax — this course will flag when Mac and Windows commands differ.
Key Takeaways
- Terminal is the window, shell is the program inside it, command line is the general concept.
- These terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation.
- Mac defaults to zsh; Windows uses PowerShell — syntax differs slightly, concepts are identical.
- Watch for tutorials written for the wrong operating system's shell syntax.
Identify your shell
Open your terminal. On Mac, type `echo $SHELL` and press Enter. On Windows PowerShell, type `$PSVersionTable.PSVersion` and press Enter. Read what comes back.