Terminal emulators replicate the functionality of a traditional computer terminal to provide users with access to a local or distant host. The emulator presents a terminal window to appear as though it is directly connected to the client. Most terminal emulators are designed for specific uses and function only with specific operating systems. Companies use these tools to access data and programs on remote devices, servers, or mainframes. The best terminal emulator software provides different graphical and text user interfaces to make the program’s use more intuitive. These tools can also add further functionality for navigating previous inputs.
To qualify for inclusion in the Terminal Emulator category, a product must:
Emulate a traditional computer terminal
Create a functional terminal window
Provide a command-line or text user interface