Computer Terminal

What is a computer terminal?

Computer terminals are the windows where a user enters commands. It’s an interface that allows users to access a command line or use a set of hardware devices consisting of a monitor and keyboard. 

Users can flexibly install or uninstall computer terminals as per their requirements. Every operating system (OS) comes with a default terminal installed.

Many IT departments use terminal emulator software to replicate the functionalities of a traditional computer terminal, providing users with access to a local or distant host. 

Types of computer terminals

With the development of time-sharing systems, computer terminals have slowly pushed the older forms of interaction and taken up different smart forms. Some major types of computer terminals include: 

• Dumb computer terminals: These are non-programmable and use a keyboard and an attached screen. They can connect to bigger mainframe computers to receive all their data and other processing instructions. They act as simple computers connected to a network or router.
• Intelligent computer terminals: These include laptops and desktops. They’re programmable and can carry out several programs and tasks without involving other computers or humans. They also offer a disk drive that facilitates reading and writing files. Unlike dumb terminals, intelligent computer terminals must be programmed for particular applications. They’re commonly used with mainframe computers in specific areas like insurance or banking as they can work independently without the help of other devices or systems. 
• Handheld computer terminals: They are smaller compared to desktop or laptop computers. However, they are larger than personal digital assistants (PDAs). They do not come with a hard drive and use flash memory to save data, making it easier to carry it from one place to another. These terminals are generally operated using batteries and don’t support the running of heavy-duty programs that may need a lot of computing power. These terminals may not access massive databases like laptops, making them useful in low-end computing tasks like accessing information and data stored on remote servers. 
• Graphics terminal: These come with a particular type of hardware that allows the display of images. They’re handy for individuals who use a Windows interface and need particular kinds of terminals. They vary greatly based on the format of the data they handle. For instance, the typewriter keyboard is one of the earliest terminal types. The most recent versions include a keyboard for input and a screen similar to a television displaying the output, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and cathode ray tubes (CRTs).

Benefits of computer terminal

Computer terminals allow users to do whatever they want with an operating system, from clicking around to seeing things on the screen. Some of the common benefits of computer terminals are:

• Efficient at accomplishing simple tasks: Computer terminals are much more efficient for several types of tasks. A simple graphical user interface (GUI) may need several clicks and various windows to do the same job. Computer terminals allow users to do the same task with as little as a single command. 
• Reduces time consumption: Users can save a lot of time as they can complete the task significantly faster. This is especially true when one has to perform repetitive tasks on a computer. 

Modes of computer terminal

Computer terminals allow users to enter data into a system, view information, and control the operation. Terminals operate in several modes depending on when an input given through the user keyboard is sent to the receiving system. Some of the available modes are:

• Character mode: This is also known as character-at-a-time mode. Here, the input is sent to the receiving system right away.

• Line mode: This is commonly referred to as line-at-a-time mode where local line editing is performed. The whole input line is sent to the receiving system after it is locally edited only when a user presses the return key.

• Block mode: Also known as screen-at-a-time mode, here, a full-screen data function takes place locally after the user provides input in numerous fields in the form on the screen. When a user presses the enter key, the terminal sends only the completed form with all data to the receiving system.

Computer terminal vs. shell

A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that enters data and gets output from a computer. It’s a text input and output environment. A wrapper program runs a shell and allows users to enter commands like command prompt. 

A shell is a command line interpreter. It’s a user interface that helps access an operating system's services. It’s the main interface that individuals see when logged in, and its primary function is to launch other programs. 

Learn more about the graphical user interface (GUI) and understand how it’s different from a computer terminal.