Definition of command line

The term "command line" originates from the interaction between a user and a computer operating system through text input. In the early history of computing, computers were primarily operated using machine language, which was a series of binary codes understood only by the computer's hardware. As computing evolved, higher-level programming languages like FORTRAN, COBOL, and BASIC emerged, making it possible to write and execute programs using human-readable instructions. However, these languages still required users to input commands through a keypunch device (which involved physically punching holes in a cardboard card), and the resulting compiled code would be loaded into the computer's memory and executed there. In the 1960s, a new interface known as the "command-line interface" (CLI) was developed. This interface allowed users to interact directly with the operating system using text commands. The user would type commands into a text-based prompt, which would be interpreted and executed by the operating system. This interface allowed for greater efficiency and flexibility in using computers, as users could perform tasks more quickly and easily using text-based commands than they could with physical punch cards. The term "command line" refers to the text input field where the user enters commands, and the "prompt" indicates where the user should input their next command. The resulting output is displayed in a text-based format. The command-line interface became a widely adopted method for interacting with computers and is still used today, particularly in the administration of servers.