shell

<operating system>

1. (Originally from Multics, widely propagated via Unix) The command interpreter used to pass commands to an operating system; so called because it is the part of the operating system that interfaces with the outside world.

The commonest Unix shells are the c shell (csh) and the Bourne shell (sh).

2. (Or "wrapper") Any interface program that mediates access to a special resource or server for convenience, efficiency, or security reasons; for this meaning, the usage is usually "a shell around" whatever.

[Jargon File]

Last updated: 1995-05-11

Nearby terms:

shelfware ♦ SHELL ♦ shell ♦ shell out ♦ shell script ♦ shell variable

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