In Mac OS X, what is the Terminal, and how do I access it?

Located in the /Applications/Utilities folder, the Terminal is your primary means of accessing the Unix prompt in Mac OS X. If you are familiar with Unix, you may recognize its similarity to the xterms of Linux and other Unix-like implementations; if not, the Terminal's nongraphical environment may be intimidating. However, it allows you to use built-in command line programs such as telnet, SSH, and SFTP, and is thus worthwhile to learn.

Note: Be careful to enter commands precisely; entering the wrong command can render your computer unusable.

Also see:

• In Unix, how do I change the permissions for a file?
• In Unix, how do I list the files in a directory?
• How do I use the vi text editor?
• What are SSH and SSH2?
• In Unix, what is the man command, and how do I use it to read manual pages?
• Introduction to Unix commands
• How do I use the Pico editor from the Unix shell?
• In Unix, what is the shell?
• In the Terminal in Mac OS X, how do I change the character size and font?
• From a Unix account, how do I connect to another shared computer?