Editing Cmd.exe (section)

==Use==

===Desktop integration===
In Windows, the shell is presented in the [[Windows Desktop|desktop]] via [[Windows Terminal]] or on older versions via [[Windows Console]].

===Concurrent piping===
In OS/2 and Windows, the shell supports [[Pipeline (Unix)|pipes]] to allow both sides of a pipeline to run concurrently. As a result, it is possible to redirect the [[standard error stream]]. In contrast, {{mono|COMMAND.COM}} uses temporary files, and runs the two sides serially, one after the other.

===Command separator===
Multiple commands can be included in a single line using the command separator {{code|&}} or {{code|&&}}.<ref name="docs.microsoft.com">{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/cmd|title=cmd|website=Microsoft Learn |date=September 12, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121065635/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/cmd |archive-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref> 

With the {{code|&}} separator, a subsequent command is executed even if the previous command indicates an error.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Command Redirection, Pipes - Windows CMD - SS64.com|url=https://ss64.com/nt/syntax-redirection.html|access-date=2021-09-23|website=ss64.com}}</ref> In the following example, each of the three commands is executed, one after the other, and regardless of their result code.

<syntaxhighlight lang="doscon">
>CommandA & CommandB & CommandC
</syntaxhighlight>

With the {{code|&&}} separator, a command must complete successfully for the subsequent command to execute. In the following example, {{code|CommandB}} only executes if {{code|CommandA}} completes successfully, and {{code|CommandC}} only executes if {{code|CommandB}} also completes successfully. 

<syntaxhighlight lang="doscon">
>CommandA && CommandB && CommandC
</syntaxhighlight>

===Command line limit===
The shell limits the length of a command line which includes entered text, individual [[environment variable]]s that are inherited by other [[process (computing)|processes]], and all environment variable expansions<ref>[https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/830473/command-prompt-cmd-exe-command-line-string-limitation Command prompt (Cmd.exe) command-line string limitation]</ref> On [[Windows XP]] and later, the maximum length is 8191 (2<sup>13</sup>-1) characters. On earlier versions, such as [[Windows 2000]] or [[Windows NT 4.0]], the maximum length is 2047 (2<sup>11</sup>-1) characters.

===Escaping special characters===
The shell reserves the following characters as [[special character|special]]:<ref name="docs.microsoft.com"/> <code>&<>[]{}^=;!'+,`~</code> and [[whitespace character|whitespace]]. In some cases, an argument that contains such characters must be enclosed in double quotes to escape from the special character handling. For example:

<syntaxhighlight lang="doscon">>echo me & you
me
'you' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

>echo "me & you"
"me & you"
</syntaxhighlight>