Asked • 04/19/19

What do pty and tty mean?

I noticed there are many mentions of `pty` and `tty` in some opensource projects, could someone can tell me what do they mean and what is the difference between them? Thanks!

Duane J.

tutor
In computing, TTY is a command in Unix and Unix-like operating systems to print the file name of the terminal connected to standard input In some operating systems, including Unix, a pseudoterminal, pseudotty, or PTY is a pair of pseudo-devices, one of which, the slave, emulates a hardware text terminal device, the other of which, the master, provides the means by which a terminal emulator process controls the slave.
Report

06/24/19

1 Expert Answer

By:

LIONEL HENRY M. answered • 06/25/19

Tutor
New to Wyzant

COLLEGE GRADUATED SPECIALIZED IN FRENCH

See tutors like this
See tutors like this


"tty" originally meant "teletype" and "pty" means "pseudo-teletype".

In UNIX, /dev/tty* is any device that acts like a "teletype", ie, a terminal. (Called teletype because that's what we had for terminals in those benighted days.)

A pty is a pseudotty, a device entry that acts like a terminal to the process reading and writing there, but is managed by something else. They first appeared (as I recall) for X Window and screen and the like, where you needed something that acted like a terminal but could be used from another program.


Upvote • 0 Downvote
More
Report

Still looking for help? Get the right answer, fast.

Ask a question for free

Get a free answer to a quick problem.
Most questions answered within 4 hours.

OR

Find an Online Tutor Now

Choose an expert and meet online. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need.