Shell Startup Files (.bashrc, .profile)

When you open a terminal, your shell doesn't just appear blank! It loads settings, defines shortcuts, and sets up your environment. These actions are controlled by special "startup files."

These files are like configuration scripts that run automatically when a new shell session begins, personalizing your command-line experience.

Shells can be interactive or non-interactive.

• Interactive: You type commands and get immediate feedback (e.g., your terminal).
• Non-interactive: A script runs in the background without user input.

Different startup files are read depending on whether the shell is interactive or not.