Question

What else is a command interpreter called?

• A. prompt
• B. kernel
• C. shell
• D. command

Hint:

Remember: The kernel manages resources; the shell interprets user commands and communicates with the kernel.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

A command interpreter is a part of an operating system that takes user commands, interprets them, and passes them to the system for execution.
This component is commonly known as the shell.
- The shell provides a user interface — either command-line-based (CLI) or graphical (GUI) — to interact with the OS.
- In Unix/Linux systems, examples of shells are Bash, Zsh, and Ksh. In Windows, Command Prompt and PowerShell serve similar purposes.
- Option (A) “prompt” refers to the symbol displayed to indicate readiness for user input, not the interpreter itself.
- Option (B) “kernel” is the core of the OS that manages resources, but it doesn’t directly interpret user commands.
- Option (D) “command” is generic and refers to an instruction, not the interpreter.
Therefore, the correct answer is $\mathbfshell$.