What is the default shell in most Linux distributions?

The default shell in most Linux distributions is Bash, which stands for "Bourne Again SHell." It serves as the command-line interface where users can execute commands, run scripts, and interact with the operating system. Bash has been widely adopted due to its robust feature set, ease of use, and compatibility with previous Unix shells. The compatibility with older Bash scripts and the availability of extensive resources and community support contribute to its prevalence in the Linux environment.

While other shells like Fish, Zsh, and Ksh have their unique features and benefits, such as improved user interfaces and additional functionalities, they have not achieved the same level of ubiquity as Bash in the default configurations of most Linux distributions. This is why knowing that Bash is the default shell is essential for understanding the command line in Linux.