.SH File Extension

SH files exist as 2 different types. Please find information about each of them below.

Type 1: Bash Shell Script

To make a bash script executable, it needs a shebang line at the top: #!/bin/bash. Use the chmod +x command so the system recognizes it as an executable file. It then needs installation in one of the ...

General Information

Title SH File Extension
Extension .sh
Full Form Bourne Shell Script
File Type Script File
Developer Stephen Bourne, AT&T Bell Laboratories
MIME Type application/x-sh

File Function

Primary Function Execute commands
Additional Functions Automate tasks, Scripting operations
Features Text-based, Command execution

File Characteristics

Quality Depends on scripting
Supports Layers N/A
Supports Transparency N/A
Editable Yes

Use Cases

System Administration Yes
Automation Yes
Software Deployment Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks Code injection, Privilege escalation
Best Practices Permission control, Code inspection

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release 1977
Latest Version Bash 5.1 (2020)

Associated Types

Similar Extensions .bash, .csh, .ksh, .zsh

Software Compatibility

Software Usage Policy OS Compatibility
GNU Bash Free Linux, Unix, Windows (via WSL or Cygwin), macOS
Notepad++ Free Windows
Visual Studio Code Free Windows, Mac, Linux

Type 2: Unix Shell Archive

Some other Unix shells, such as Bourne, C shell, and Korn, also use scripts saved as SH files. One way to recognize a Bash script is to look for the string #!/bin/bash in the script's first line. How ...

General Information

Title SH File Extension
Extension .sh
Full Form Shell Script File
File Type Script or Executable File
Developer Various (Open Source)
MIME Type application/x-sh

File Function

Primary Function Execute commands
Additional Functions Automate tasks, Scripting installations
Features Text-based, Executable

File Characteristics

Quality Depends on scripting
Supports Layers N/A
Supports Transparency N/A
Editable Yes

Use Cases

System Administration Yes
Automated Backups Yes
Task Scheduling Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks Script injection, Unauthorized execution
Best Practices Permission control, Code review

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release 1970s
Latest Version Depends on interpreter

Associated Types

Similar Extensions .bash, .csh, .tcsh, .ksh

Software Compatibility

Software Usage Policy OS Compatibility
Bash Free Unix, Linux, macOS
GNU Shell Free Unix, Linux
Zsh Free Unix, Linux, macOS, Windows (via WSL)
Cygwin Free Windows