Integrated Terminal
An integrated terminal is a command-line interface (CLI) embedded directly within an integrated development environment (IDE) or code editor, allowing developers to execute shell commands, run scripts, and manage system tasks without switching to an external terminal application. It provides seamless access to tools like Git, package managers (e.g., npm, pip), and build systems while maintaining context with the code being edited. This integration enhances productivity by reducing context switching and enabling direct interaction with development workflows from within the editor.
Developers should use an integrated terminal when working in IDEs like Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, or PyCharm to streamline tasks such as running tests, installing dependencies, or executing deployment scripts without leaving the coding environment. It is particularly valuable for web development, DevOps, and scripting work where frequent command-line operations are required, as it allows for quick debugging, version control operations, and environment management directly alongside code changes.