command line

A line of text typed by the user at the operating system prompt to run a program. In a character-based environment, all programs are invoked by a command line with optional command line arguments and options. Here is an example of a command line with options set off by hyphens: W4GLCOMP -ANSI -A SPORTS.4GL In graphical user interfaces, command line execution is often replaced with icons and buttons. Some programs have both command line and graphical user interfaces.

See also button, graphical user interface, icon, operating system.