Windows Command Prompt, PowerShell, Terminal

Some of you who have been around a while will remember the good old DOS Commands that were used when you had to type commands into a terminal to execute processes on the machine. Early PC operating systems, like MSDOS, operated exclusively through command-line interfaces. There were no mouse cursor, window management, or similar graphical user interface (GUI) elements we take for granted today.

The Command Prompt, officially called the Windows Command Processor and often abbreviated to CMD, is the command line interface for Windows operating systems.

Depending of which version of Windows your using, it goes by different names: Command Prompt - PowerShell or Terminal.

Right Click on the START BUTTON. In the pop-up menu you will find CMD, Power Shell or Terminal (differences will be explained). Also you will find an option to Run as Administrator. Some commands require higher level access.

There are key differences between Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Windows Terminal. Here's a concise comparison to help you understand their unique features:

Command Prompt (CMD)

• Purpose: Basic command-line interface for running DOS commands and simple scripts.
• Commands: Supports a set of internal commands; lacks scripting capabilities of PowerShell.
• Usage: Ideal for quick command executions and legacy applications.

PowerShell

• Purpose: Advanced command-line interface with scripting capabilities
• Commands: Uses cmdlets (command-lets) which are .NET-based, making it more powerful.
• Usage: Suitable for complex task automation, managing systems, and handling various administrative tasks.

Windows Terminal

• Purpose: Modern interface for command-line tools.
• Commands: Supports multiple tabs, customizable profiles, and themes.
• Usage: Acts as a unified interface to run CMD, PowerShell, and other command-line applications (like Git Bash, WSL).

Some helpfull links to better understand the Windows Command Processor:

• Beginners Guide to CMD
• CMD examples
• Complete index of all CMD commands
• Power Shell
• Complete index of all Power Shell commands
• How to use the DIR command
• Diagnose Internet Connection from the Command Prompt
• More Usefull Commands
• Windows Terminal Guide

- This page last updated/reviewed on 19/11/24