---
title: "Discussion on \"Terminal, Console, CLI, shell... Aren't they all the same thing?\" | Hashnode"
description: "Discussion on \"Terminal, Console, CLI, shell... Aren't they all the same thing?\". Terminal, Console, CLI, shell... Aren't they all the same thing?\nYes and no (although, in the present day, we do use them interchangeably with the confidence that the other person knows what we're talking about)!\nI get these terms mixed up quite a bi..."
url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca"
---

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Discussion

# [Terminal, Console, CLI, shell... Aren't they all the same thing?](https://blog.adrienne.io/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

Terminal, Console, CLI, shell... Aren't they all the same thing? Yes and no (although, in the present day, we do use them interchangeably with the confidence that the other person knows what we're talking about)! I get these terms mixed up quite a bi...

Feb 12, 2021 · 8 min read · blog.adrienne.io  
Read the article

-   [#beginners](https://hashnode.com/tag/beginners)
-   [#terminal](https://hashnode.com/tag/terminal)
-   [#shell](https://hashnode.com/tag/shell)
-   [#cli](https://hashnode.com/tag/cli)
-   [#programming](https://hashnode.com/tag/programming)

## Written by

[Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

@adriennetacke · Nevada, USA

  
[View profile](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

Cloud Developer & Senior Developer Advocate @ Cisco

👋 Kumusta! I'm a Filipina software engineer, speaker, published author of the book Coding for Kids: Python, and a LinkedIn Learning instructor who specializes in Cloud Development courses. Currently, I'm also a Senior Developer Advocate for Cisco where I'm sharing how we're so much more than a network and infrastructure company! Perhaps most important, however, is that I spend way too much money on desserts and ungodly amounts of time playing Cyberpunk 2077! Bonus Fun Facts: 🕹 Favorite PC/video games: Age of Empires II, RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, and the Borderlands series 💄 Favorite lipstick color is Bite's Aubergine 🎬 Favorite movies are Inception (really, anything be Christopher Nolan) and The Matrix.

## Responses 7

Markdown supported · ⌘↵ to post

[peters maze](https://hashnode.com/@petersmaze)

[Nov 28, 2022](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/63847e81f6bb711d3c2e61e8)

Thanks for sharing

[Catalin Pit](https://hashnode.com/@Catalinpit)

[Feb 15, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/602a119f355c6669fd17c7c3)

Nice breakdown of the different terms. I learnt something new today. 😊

[Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

[Feb 16, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/602a119f355c6669fd17c7c3#reply-602b57e240efdc777c71cd66)

Whoo! That's always a welcome comment. Glad to hear it :)

[Sandra boateng](https://hashnode.com/@boateng141)

[Feb 20, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/602a119f355c6669fd17c7c3#reply-6030699272a689446db3d311)

Hi

[Rita Zannu](https://hashnode.com/@AfricanPearl)

[Feb 14, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6029b7c2355c6669fd17c31b)

Awesome, distinctly explained.

[Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

[Feb 15, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6029b7c2355c6669fd17c31b#reply-602a064c355c6669fd17c598)

Thank you Rita!

[Bhargav Ponnapalli](https://hashnode.com/@codewithbhargav)

[Feb 14, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6028bf0b99eab86a04871e86)

This was very interesting! I always thought there was something more than the names but never ventured far enough to read more about them.

Thanks! [Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)!

[Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

[Feb 14, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6028bf0b99eab86a04871e86#reply-60298903355c6669fd17c1ec)

I thought the same thing. So interesting to know the history behind it :)

Thanks for taking the time to read!

[Sandra boateng](https://hashnode.com/@boateng141)

[Feb 20, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6028bf0b99eab86a04871e86#reply-603069a0f51caf444856168b)

Hi

[Anna Liza Solivio](https://hashnode.com/@annalizasolivio)

[Feb 14, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/60289a0c355c6669fd17b833)

You have written in a way that people from non-computer-science background can also understand! Thanks Adrienne

[Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

[Feb 14, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/60289a0c355c6669fd17b833#reply-6029891699eab86a04872707)

I appreciate your comment so much, Anna! Thank you!

[Favourite Jome](https://hashnode.com/@Favourite)

[Feb 13, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6027f3e2e522c1626f37239c)

Thanks for sharing, now I know the differences

[Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

[Feb 13, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6027f3e2e522c1626f37239c#reply-6028453e355c6669fd17b5bc)

No problem! I still refer back to this every now and then :p

[Favourite Jome](https://hashnode.com/@Favourite)

[Feb 13, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6027f3e2e522c1626f37239c#reply-60284b6a99eab86a04871ae8)

Yes, I also bookmarked the article so I'll easily find it later on [Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

[Paolo Urciullo](https://hashnode.com/@Paolourciullo)

[Feb 13, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6027c053e522c1626f3721d4)

Thanks for the breakdown. I just took an 8 hour intro to Linux and the two Linux-heads I know already got around to telling me I'm not calling the command prompt the proper thing.

[Adrienne Tacke](https://hashnode.com/@adriennetacke)

[Feb 13, 2021](https://hashnode.com/posts/terminal-console-cli-shell-arent-they-all-the-same-thing/6026db4ae522c1626f3718ca/comment/6027c053e522c1626f3721d4#reply-60284508355c6669fd17b5b2)

No problem! And don't let them make you feel bad, a lot of terms can mean different things in different environments and to different people.

They all stemmed from these roots, though, so I'm glad you found the breakdown useful!