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Bash

Bash is a Unix shell and command language developed for the GNU Project.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Bash is a Unix shell and command language developed for the GNU Project. Its name is an acronym for "Bourne Again SHell," and it is widely used for interactive command-line work and shell scripting on Unix-like systems. It was first released in 1989 and is commonly the default login shell on many Linux distributions.

History

Bash was first released in 1989 as part of the GNU Project. It was created by Brian Fox as a free software alternative to the Bourne shell.

Features

Bash functions as both a command interpreter and a programming language for shell scripts. The GNU manual describes it as largely compatible with sh and as including useful features from the Korn shell and C shell.

Use in computing

Bash is widely used on Unix-like systems for interactive command-line sessions and automation. It is commonly the default login shell on many Linux distributions and is available on many modern operating systems.

Shell scripting

Bash can read and execute commands from scripts, allowing users to automate workflows and combine commands, variables, conditionals, and loops in one file.

Key facts

  • Bash is an interactive command interpreter and scripting language for Unix-like operating systems.
  • It was created by Brian Fox for the GNU Project and first released in 1989.
  • Bash is designed as a free software replacement for the Bourne shell (sh).
  • Bash scripts are used to automate tasks by executing commands from files.
  • Bash is commonly the default login shell on many Linux distributions.

Frequently asked questions

What does Bash stand for?
Bash stands for "Bourne Again SHell."
Who created Bash?
Bash was created by Brian Fox for the GNU Project.
When was Bash first released?
Bash was first released in 1989.
Is Bash the same as sh?
No. Bash is largely compatible with sh, but it also adds additional features and extensions.
What is Bash used for?
Bash is used for interactive command-line work and for writing shell scripts to automate tasks.

References

  1. GNU Project — https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/bash.html
    Supports: Bash is a shell and command language for GNU, largely compatible with sh, and includes features from ksh and csh.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash_(Unix_shell)
    Supports: Bash was created by Brian Fox in 1989, means Bourne Again SHell, and is widely used as a default login shell on Linux distributions.
  3. GNU Project — http://www.gnu.org/s/bash/manual/bash.pdf
    Supports: Bash is the GNU shell, is named Bourne-Again SHell, and is designed as a POSIX-compatible shell with broad portability.