Shell builtins are commands that are implemented directly within the shell itself, rather than being external programs or scripts. These commands are part of the shell's functionality and can be executed without the need to create a new process.
Builtins provide essential features for managing the shell environment, controlling the execution of commands, and performing various tasks. They typically include commands for:
- Changing directories (
cd) - Displaying text (
echo) - Setting environment variables (
export) - Managing command history (
history) - Checking the current directory (
pwd)
Because builtins operate within the shell, they can access and manipulate the shell's internal state and variables more efficiently than external commands.
