In Mac OS X, what is the Terminal, and how do I access it?

The Terminal is the easiest way to access the Unix prompt in Mac OS X. If you are familiar with Unix, you may recognize its similarity to xterm implementations in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems; if not, the Terminal's non-graphical environment may be intimidating. However, it allows you to use built-in command line programs such as telnet, SSH, and SFTP, and is required for some advanced Mac OS X tasks.

Opening a Terminal window

To open a Terminal window:

1. In the Finder, from the Go menu, choose Applications.
   
   
2. In the Applications window, double-click Utilities, and then double-click Terminal.

Note: Be careful to enter commands precisely; entering the wrong command can render your computer unusable or cause other problems.

Also see:

• In Unix, how do I change the permissions for a file?
• In Unix, how do I list the files in a directory?
• How do I use the vi text editor?
• What are SSH and SSH2?
• In Unix, what is the man command, and how do I use it to read manual pages?
• Introduction to Unix commands
• How do I use the Pico editor from the Unix shell?
• In Unix, what is the shell?
• From a Unix account, how do I connect to another shared computer?