Command-line interface

A command-line interface (CLI) is a means of interacting with <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a> via <a href="/facts/Command_(computing)/zUrvQbFy">commands</a> – each formatted as a line of text. Command-line interfaces emerged in the mid-1960s, on <a href="/facts/Computer_terminal/fSlx05qV">computer terminals</a>, as an interactive and more user-friendly alternative to the non-interactive mode available with <a href="/facts/Punched_cards/44WsPulQ">punched cards</a>.
For a long time, CLI was the most common interface for software, but today the <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface/wBlQFWDP">graphical user interface</a> (GUI) is more common. None-the-less, many programs such as <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> and <a href="/facts/Software_development/UUfsAaYY">software development</a> <a href="/facts/Utility_software/Hn3XtISQ">utilities</a> still provide CLI.
CLI enables <a href="/facts/Automation/3YlF2K5q">automating</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">programs</a> since commands can be stored in a <a href="/facts/Scripting_language/8pF4ajBL">script</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">file</a> that can be used repeatedly. A script allows its contained commands to be executed as group; as a program; as a command.
CLI is made possible by command-line interpreters or command-line processors, which are programs that execute input commands.
Alternatives to CLI include GUI (including the <a href="/facts/Desktop_metaphor/kWQQNlxu">desktop metaphor</a> such as <a href="/facts/Windows/bwhAhuSL">Windows</a>), <a href="/facts/Text-based_user_interface/bngNtqIY">text-based</a> <a href="/facts/Menu_(computing)/zdKCgPGq">menuing</a> (including <a href="/facts/DOS_Shell/4C9UfyG4">DOS Shell</a> and <a href="/facts/IBM_AIX_SMIT/VovaPxvl">IBM AIX SMIT</a>), and <a href="/facts/Keyboard_shortcut/mjeb82kI">keyboard shortcuts</a>.

Command-line interface open-in-new

Command-line interface