Command (computing): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 08:33, 21 September 2022

Revision as of 10:57, 19 November 2022

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{{short description|Directive to a computer program}}

{{redirect distinguish|System command|system call}}

{{other uses|Command (disambiguation)#Computing{{!}}Command#Computing}}

{{refimprove|date=May 2008 }}

In [[computing]], a '''command''' is a directive to a computer program to perform a specific task. It may be issued via a [[command-line interface]], such as a [[shell (computing)|shell]], or as input to a network service as part of a [[network protocol]], or as an event in a [[graphical user interface]] triggered by the user selecting an option in a [[menu (computing)|menu]].

Specifically, the term ''command'' is used in [[imperative programming|imperative]] [[computer language]]s. The name arises because [[statement (programming)|statements]] in these languages are usually written in a manner similar to the [[imperative mood]] used in many [[natural language]]s. If one views a statement in an [[imperative language]] as being like a sentence in a natural language, then a command is generally like a verb in such a language.