Chapter 1. Introduction

In This chapter:

• Using the Examples

• Selecting a Login Shell

• Before You Read Further

When you log in to a UNIX system, you're typically greeted by some sort of banner message and a prompt such as % or $. The prompt indicates that you're talking to a shell—a command interpreter that provides you with an interface to the services UNIX offers. Why the name "shell"? Think of a shell as a wrapper around UNIX, insulating you from the need to know the underlying details of the operating system. Your shell helps you get your work done by reading the commands you type and passing the commands to the operating system for execution.