TTY
TTY (noun) means a text terminal on a computer, especially the terminal device or console session that a Unix or Linux system uses for keyboard input and text output. Example: “Run 'tty' and it will print the name of the terminal you are currently using, such as /dev/pts/0.”
How to Use TTY
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe text screen and keyboard a computer talks to you through.
Technical jargon in computing; in accessibility contexts it is standard, official vocabulary.
On Linux, press Ctrl+Alt+F3 to switch to a bare TTY and Ctrl+Alt+F2 or F1 to come back to the desktop.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Run '_____' and it will print the name of the terminal you are currently using, such as /dev/pts/0.
Etymology
An abbreviation of teletypewriter, the early printing terminal that connected to a computer or telephone line.
Synonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does TTY stand for?
It stands for teletypewriter. The original machines were electromechanical typewriters that sent and received text down a wire, and the name stuck for the software terminals that replaced them.
What is the difference between TTY and PTY?
A TTY is the general idea of a terminal device, historically a real piece of hardware. A PTY, or pseudo-terminal, is a software emulation of one, which is what you are using whenever you open a terminal window or connect over SSH.
Why do scripts complain about 'no TTY'?
Some commands need an interactive terminal, for example to hide a password as you type it. When they run from a cron job, a pipeline or a container without a terminal attached, there is no TTY and the command refuses or fails.