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How and why do command lines work in CMD.EXE?


The command line in CMD.EXE, often also called console or terminal, is a text-based interface within the operating system that can make things a lot easier!




Contents:

1.) ... Why does the command prompt and command lines work!
2.) ... How does the command prompt and command lines work!
3.) ... A few of the most important command lines!




1.) Why does the command prompt and command lines work!

Before there was a graphical interface on the operating systems, everything was done with command lines; the ►  graphical interface, also called GUI , came later. The essential system-relevant tasks continue to run in the background without being displayed graphically!    

You can run command lines via the command prompt, here again different tools are addressed, whereby there are also internal commands that are embedded in the CMD!

For this: ►►   What are internal commands of the command prompt?  



The Command Prompt and Command Line are powerful tools that allow users to interact directly with a computer system without having to use a graphical user interface. They work because they provide a text-based interface through which users can enter commands to perform various tasks. These commands are then interpreted and executed by the operating system.
 
The Command Prompt and Command Line are particularly useful for advanced users and developers because they provide a quick and efficient way to access various system functions, manage files, run programs, and more without relying on a graphical user interface.
 
They are also useful for automation tasks because many commands can be scripted and executed to automate repetitive tasks.
 
The command prompt and command line work because they provide a direct interface between the user and the operating system and can perform a variety of tasks efficiently.

 

2.) How does the command prompt and command lines work!

By combining internal and external commands you can automate many things, you can link the commands together and thus speed up things that normally require several clicks. Or let things run automatically, which actually happens all the time on the operating system, only that it just goes unnoticed. The simplest is the keyboard query, in order to be able to type, the keyboard input is actually constantly queried in the background and the corresponding action is carried out. Otherwise I could not write this text.

Save time:
►►  How do I create a batch file on / for MS Windows?
►►  Using batch file to start multiple programs!
►►  Using SCHTASK to auto start Windows programs! 


 
The command prompt and command line are text-based interfaces that allow users to interact with a computer system by entering commands. Here is a basic how it works:
 
1. User input:
 
The user enters a command or instruction using the keyboard.
 
2. Interpretation:
 
The operating system interprets the command line entered and tries to identify the corresponding command.
 
3. Command Execution:
 
Once the command is identified, it is executed. This could mean that the operating system is calling an internal function, launching an application, or executing a script.
 
4. Result:
 
After the command is executed, the result (if any) will be displayed to the user. This can be a confirmation, an error message, or an output depending on the type of command being executed.
 
The Command Prompt and Command Line provide a variety of commands and options that allow users to perform various tasks, from file management to system configuration to network communications and much more. They are particularly useful for advanced users and developers because they often provide faster and more precise control over the system than graphical user interfaces.

 

3.) A few of the most important command lines!

►► Copy files with COPY commands, cmd with examples?
►► Command to list print jobs / cancel / example?
►► Synchronizing directories in Q-Dir using XCOPY.exe 
►► The Create Directory command in Windows cmd.exe, how can I do this?

Or simply browse here in the FAQ 
►  FAQ MS Windows command prompt




Here are some of the most important command-line commands that can be used on most operating systems:

1. cd:

Changes the current directory.

Example:

`cd Desktop` changes the directory to Desktop.

2. dir (Windows) / ls (Unix/Linux):

Lists the contents of a directory.

Example:

`dir` or `ls` shows the contents of the current directory.

3. mkdir:

Creates a new directory.

Example:

`mkdir new_folder` creates a directory named "new_folder".

4. rm (Unix/Linux) / del (Windows):

Deletes a file.

Example:

`rm file.txt` (Unix/Linux) or `del file.txt` (Windows) deletes the file "file.txt".

5. cp (Unix/Linux) / copy (Windows):

Copies a file.

Example:

`cp source.txt destination.txt` (Unix/Linux) or `copy source.txt destination.txt` (Windows) copies the file "source.txt" to "destination.txt".

6. mv (Unix/Linux) / move (Windows):

Moves a file or renames it.

Example:

`mv oldname.txt newname.txt` (Unix/Linux) or `move oldname.txt newname.txt` (Windows) renames the file "oldname.txt" to "newname.txt".

7. grep (Unix/Linux):

Searches for a pattern in a file or text.

Example:

`grep "pattern" file.txt` searches for the pattern "pattern" in the file "file.txt".

8. ping:

Tests the reachability of a network host.

Example:

`ping google.com` tests the reachability of google.com.

9. ipconfig (Windows) / ifconfig (Unix/Linux):

Displays information about network configuration.

Example:

`ipconfig` (Windows) or `ifconfig` (Unix/Linux) displays network information such as IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.

10. ssh:

Allows a secure connection to a remote computer.

Example:

`ssh username@remote_host` establishes an SSH connection to the remote host with the specified username.

These commands are just a sampling of the many commands available in the command line, and they vary depending on the operating system being used.

FAQ 146: Updated on: 13 April 2024 08:25 Windows
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