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Junior — Middle

What are the differences between the zsh and sh shells in the Linux operating system?

sobes.tech AI

Answer from AI

sh (Bourne shell) — is a classic Unix shell that provides a basic set of commands and syntax for scripting and interactive work. It is simple and compatible with most systems.

zsh (Z shell) — is a more modern and extended shell that is compatible with sh, but adds many conveniences:

  • Autocompletion of commands, files, and parameters with hints.
  • Advanced command history features (searching, editing).
  • Support for plugins and themes.
  • Improved syntax for scripts and functions.
  • Global aliases and more flexible configurations.

Example: in zsh, you can use extended autocompletion and syntax highlighting directly in the terminal, which speeds up work.

Summary: sh is a minimalist and highly compatible shell, zsh is more convenient and functional for interactive work and scripting.