shell script

shell script

(programming, operating system)

A program written to be interpreted by the shell of an operating system, especially Unix.

Compare: script, glue language.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

shell script

A file of executable commands for Unix and Linux. Created in a text editor, when the file is run, each command is executed until the end of the file is reached. After the shell script is written, it is made usable by changing its file status to "executable" with the change mode command (see chmod).

Shell scripts are the Unix/Linux counterpart to Windows/DOS batch files and Windows scripts. Because macOS is Unix based, Macs also execute shell scripts. See Windows Script Host, PowerShell and batch file abc's.

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