A terminal is a device or program used for data transmission, input and output, control and management of a computer system. In the computer field, terminals are usually divided into two forms: physical terminals and virtual terminals.
A physical terminal is a device that is directly connected to a computer through peripherals such as a keyboard, monitor, and mouse, such as a desktop computer or a laptop computer.
A virtual terminal is a software program that connects to a computer over a network, such as SSH or Telnet. The function of the terminal is to present the user's input and the computer's feedback in a visual way to facilitate the user's interaction and operation with the computer.