Terminal
Also called command line, shell, CLI.
In plain English
A terminal is a text window where you type commands to a computer instead of clicking buttons.
Example
A Bot types npm run build in its terminal, waits, and then tells you whether the build passed.
Why it matters
MDN describes the command line as a text interface where you type commands and the computer runs them. Developers use it to install tools, run a project, and work with GitGit is a version-control tool that records changes to files and helps people combine work over time.. Many coding agents use a terminal too, so you may see the commands they ran in a chat.
How it shows up on bot.ski
Botski guides sometimes show a command you can copy. You never need a terminal to read the site or plan a bot.
Common confusion
The terminal is the window. The shell is the program inside it that reads your commands. People often use the two words for the same thing.
Sources
Updated October 11, 2026.