What is Bash written in?
The Bash runtime is written in C.
Bash is a GNU Project implementation of the standard Unix shell, first released in 1989.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C (since 1989) | Bash interpreter written in C |
Runtime model
The Bash runtime, written in C, manages the execution of Bash programs. Runtime-based languages rely on a host process to interpret or compile code at runtime rather than compiling entirely ahead-of-time to native machine code. This means running Bash programs requires the runtime to be present on the target system.
The choice of C for the runtime gives Bash access to native performance, established platform abstractions, and existing ecosystem libraries.
Explore in the Graph
See Bash's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the Bash language page for the complete record.