command-line interpreter ==>
command interpreter
<operating system> A program which reads textual commands from the user
or from a file and executes them. Some commands may be executed directly within
the interpreter itself (e.g. setting variables or control constructs), others
may cause it to load and execute other files.
Unix's command interpreters are known as shells.
When an IBM PC is booted BIOS loads and runs the MS-DOS command interpreter into
memory from file COMMAND.COM found on a floppy disk or hard disk drive. The
commands that COMMAND.COM recognizes (e.g. COPY, DIR, PRN) are called internal
commands, in contrast to external commands which are executable files.
(1995-03-16)
Nearby terms:
comma « command « Command Control Processor «
command interpreter » command key » command line
interface » command-line interpreter
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