What is Command Line Interface (CLI)?

CLI stands for:

• Command Line Interface
• Command Line Interpreter
• Command Line Input

Command Line Input

CLI is a command line program that accepts text input to execute operating system functions.

In the 1960s, using only computer terminals, this was the only way to interact with computers.

In the 1970s an 1980s, command line input was commonly used by Unix systems and PC systems like MS-DOS and Apple DOS.

Today, with graphical user interfaces (GUI), most users never use command-line interfaces (CLI).

However, CLI is still used by software developers and system administrators to configure computers, install software, and access features that are not available in the graphical interface.

Examples

The software package manager npm uses command line input to install software:

Windows Example

Mac OS Example

You can navigate your folders (directories) with command line commands:

Windows Example

Use CLI commands with great attention.

Wrong use can easily delete files or destroy your computer system completely.

Basic Linux CLI Commands

Command	Description
ls	List the directory (folder) system.
cd pathname	Change directory (folder) in the file system.
cd ..	Move one level up (one folder) in the file system.
cp	Copy a file to another folder.
mv	Move a file to another folder.
mkdir	Creates a new directory (folder).
rmdir	Remove a directory (folder).
clear	Clears the CLI window.
exit	Closes the CLI window.
man command	Shows the manual for a given command.

Basic Windows CLI Commands

Command	Description
dir	List the directory (folder) system.
cd pathname	Change directory (folder) in the file system.
cd \	Move to the root folder of the file system.
cd ..	Move one level up (one folder) in the file system.
copy	Copy a file to another folder.
move	Move a file to another folder.
type filename	Type a file.
mkdir or md	Creates a new directory (folder).
rmdir or rd	Removes a directory (folder).
cls	Clears the CLI window.
exit	Closes the CLI window.
help command	Shows the manual for a given command.

DOS Commands Help

You can display all available commands with the help command:

Example

ASSOC	Displays or modifies file extension associations.
ATTRIB	Displays or changes file attributes.
BREAK	Sets or clears extended CTRL+C checking.
BCDEDIT	Sets properties in boot database to control boot loading.
CACLS	Displays or modifies access control lists (ACLs) of files.
CALL	Calls one batch program from another.
CD	Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHCP	Displays or sets the active code page number.
CHDIR	Displays the name of or changes the current directory.
CHKDSK	Checks a disk and displays a status report.
CHKNTFS	Displays or modifies the checking of disk at boot time.
CLS	Clears the screen.
CMD	Starts a new instance of the Windows command interpreter.
COLOR	Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
COMP	Compares the contents of two files or sets of files.
COMPACT	Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.
CONVERT	Converts FAT volumes to NTFS. You cannot convert the current drive.
COPY	Copies one or more files to another location.
DATE	Displays or sets the date.
DEL	Deletes one or more files.
DIR	Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory.
DISKPART	Displays or configures Disk Partition properties.
DOSKEY	Edits command lines, recalls Windows commands, and creates macros.
DRIVERQUERY	Displays current device driver status and properties.
ECHO	Displays messages, or turns command echoing on or off.
ENDLOCAL	Ends localization of environment changes in a batch file.
ERASE	Deletes one or more files.
EXIT	Quits the CMD.EXE program (command interpreter).
FC	Compares two files or sets of files, and displays the differences between them.
FIND	Searches for a text string in a file or files.
FINDSTR	Searches for strings in files.
FOR	Runs a specified command for each file in a set of files.
FORMAT	Formats a disk for use with Windows.
FSUTIL	Displays or configures the file system properties.
FTYPE	Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.
GOTO	Directs the Windows command interpreter to a labeled line in a batch program.
GPRESULT	Displays Group Policy information for machine or user.
GRAFTABL	Enables Windows to display an extended character set in graphics mode.
HELP	Provides Help information for Windows commands.
ICACLS	Display, modify, backup, or restore ACLs for files and directories.
IF	Performs conditional processing in batch programs.
LABEL	Creates, changes, or deletes the volume label of a disk.
MD	Creates a directory.
MKDIR	Creates a directory.
MKLINK	Creates Symbolic Links and Hard Links.
MODE	Configures a system device.
MORE	Displays output one screen at a time.
MOVE	Moves one or more files from one directory to another directory.
OPENFILES	Displays files opened by remote users for a file share.
PATH	Displays or sets a search path for executable files.
PAUSE	Suspends processing of a batch file and displays a message.
POPD	Restores the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD.
PRINT	Prints a text file.
PROMPT	Changes the Windows command prompt.
PUSHD	Saves the current directory then changes it.
RD	Removes a directory.
RECOVER	Recovers readable information from a bad or defective disk.
REM	Records comments (remarks) in batch files or CONFIG.SYS.
REN	Renames a file or files.
RENAME	Renames a file or files.
REPLACE	Replaces files.
RMDIR	Removes a directory.
ROBOCOPY	Advanced utility to copy files and directory trees.
SET	Displays, sets, or removes Windows environment variables.
SETLOCAL	Begins localization of environment changes in a batch file.
SC	Displays or configures services (background processes).
SCHTASKS	Schedules commands and programs to run on a computer.
SHIFT	Shifts the position of replaceable parameters in batch files.
SHUTDOWN	Allows proper local or remote shutdown of machine.
SORT	Sorts input.
START	Starts a separate window to run a specified program or command.
SUBST	Associates a path with a drive letter.
SYSTEMINFO	Displays machine specific properties and configuration.
TASKLIST	Displays all currently running tasks including services.
TASKKILL	Kill or stop a running process or application.
TIME	Displays or sets the system time.
TITLE	Sets the window title for a CMD.EXE session.
TREE	Graphically displays the directory structure of a drive or path.
TYPE	Displays the contents of a text file.
VER	Displays the Windows version.
VERIFY	Tells Windows whether to verify that your files are written correctly to a disk.
VOL	Displays a disk volume label and serial number.
XCOPY	Copies files and directory trees.
WMIC	Displays WMI information inside interactive command shell.

Command Help

For more information on a specific command, type help + command-name

Example

Displays or sets the date.

Type DATE without parameters to display the current date setting and
a prompt for a new one. Press ENTER to keep the same date.

If Command Extensions are enabled the DATE command supports
the /T switch which tells the command to just output the
current date, without prompting for a new date.

Command line

The command line, also called the Windows command line, command screen, or text interface, is a user interface that’s navigated by typing commands at prompts, instead of using a mouse. For example, the Windows folder in a Windows command line is «C:\Windows>» (as shown in the picture). In Unix or Linux, it may be «%» or «>» depending on the shell. Unlike a GUI (graphical user interface) operating system, a command line only uses a keyboard to navigate by entering commands and does not utilize a mouse for navigating.

Why do people use the command line?

Although using a command line interface requires the memorization of many different commands, it can be valuable resource and should not be ignored. Using a command line, you can perform almost all the same tasks that can be done with a GUI. However, many tasks can be performed quicker and can be easier to automate and do remotely.

For example, users who have Microsoft Windows may find a task such as renaming 100+ files in a folder, a very time intensive task. However, renaming 100+ files in a directory can be done in less than a minute with a single command in the command line. The task could also be automated using a batch file or other scripts to run instantly.

Example of doing a task in the command line

For someone with little or no experience with a command line, it may be difficult to grasp how the command line is used. Below is an overview to help demonstrate a task done in the Windows command line and in the Windows GUI.

Move all .txt files to a backup directory in a Windows command line

1. Open the Windows command line.
2. Move to the directory containing the .txt files using the cd command. For example, you could move to the hope user’s documents by typing «cd\users\hope\documents» at the prompt.
3. Once in the directory, if a backup directory did not exist you could use the md command and type «md backup» to make a new backup directory.
4. Finally, to move all .txt files you could use the move command and type «move *.txt backup» to move all .txt files to the backup folder. The * is used as a wildcard.

Move all .txt files to a backup folder in a Windows

For a comparison to the above command line steps. Below are the steps on how to perform the same action (moving .txt files) in Windows.

1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Open the drive and folder containing the .txt files. For example, you could move into the C: drive and navigate to the Users folder, Hope folder, and then the Documents folder to open them for the hope user.
3. Once in the folder, if a backup folder did not exist, you could right-click in the folder, click New, select Folder, and name it «backup» to create a new backup folder.
4. If Windows Explorer is not showing the files in the Details view, click the View tab and select Details.
5. Click the Type column to browse files by type.
6. Highlight all .txt files.

• How to select or highlight multiple files and folders.

1. Right-click the highlighted and select Cut.
2. Open the backup folder, and in that folder, right-click and then click Paste to move all files into that folder.

As demonstrated in the two examples above, performing the same task in a command line does require learning at least three commands. However, once these commands are known, it requires less steps in a command line than in Windows. These same commands could also be used in a batch file or other scripting language to automate the process. For example, you could automate backing up files by copying the files instead of moving them. Once the commands are written in a batch file, double-click the batch file to perform all the copying.

Command line commands

There are hundreds of different commands that can be used in a command line. Remembering all the commands, syntax, and options of every command would be impossible, which is why we’ve created the below pages. Below are links to our Windows command line, MS-DOS, Linux, and Unix command listings. Each of these pages has hundreds of commands with full syntax and examples of how to use each command.

Text interface with menus in a command line

A text interface can be made easier to navigate using menus created with text and ASCII extended characters. For example, many command line text editors use an interface with menus and shortcut keys that make navigating the file being edited easier. The picture below is an example of the MS-DOS editor used to edit files while at the MS-DOS or Windows command line.

Although a text interface with menus has a lot more visual appeal than the command line, this interface is still considered a text interface and not a graphical interface.

Should I learn a command line?

We’re strong believers you should learn as much as you can about computers to make using a computer easier. Having a basic understanding of the command line from reading this page gives you a much greater advantage than someone unfamiliar with its capabilities. Below are some reasons you may want to learn even more about the command line.

• You need ways to manage files faster and easier on a computer.
• You work with computers remotely.
• Manage files on a file server or web server (e.g., managing a web page).
• Need to automate commonly performed tasks.
• Want to learn even more about computers.

Should I use «command line» or «command-line» in my writing?

Both «command line» and «command-line» are acceptable and widely used in today’s writing. When used as an adjective before a noun, use «command-line» (with a hyphen) in your writing to help prevent confusion. For example, in the sentence «Make sure you entered the correct command-line parameter.» the word «command-line» is describing a type of parameter.

When used as a noun, use «command line» (with no hyphen) in your writing. For example, in the sentence «Open the command line.» the use of «command line» is used as a noun.