Every keystroke matters and any syntax errors will negatively affect successful execution. One example would be creating a directory from the terminal with one command. Using the terminal, users can accomplish the same tasks as when they use the standard graphical user interface (GUI) and even more. To check if you have them, start by opening a Terminal window. The Mac terminal is a command-line interface (CLI) that allows users to interact with the operating system through text commands.

While there's a lot that can be done with Mac Terminal, there's definitely a learning curve for this type of operating system interface - and it's important to remember that there are syntax rules for using Terminal or any similar command line interface and precision is key. The first thing to do is to check if you already have the command line tools installed. It can be opened easily through Finder or Spotlight. The Mac Terminal interface can accommodate multiple sessions and can make some operating system tasks faster and easier for knowledgeable users.Ĭommands that may be executed from Mac Terminal include: cdĬhange the access mode of a file or directoryĭownload a file by using HTTP, HTTPS or FTPĭisplay the default permission for a home directoryĭisplay the read, write and access permission of a particular folderīusiness Insider calls Mac Terminal the 'ultimate shortcut hub' for navigating to applications and opening files.

Professionals may refer to Mac Terminal as an emulator or UNIX shell.

Mac terminal commands creation