What is the function of the command 'echo'?

The command 'echo' is primarily used to print text to the terminal. When you use 'echo' followed by a string, it outputs that string to the screen, making it a useful tool for displaying messages, variables, and the results of commands in a shell environment. For example, executing echo "Hello, World!" will display "Hello, World!" on the terminal. This functionality is essential for scripting and command-line operations, as it allows users and scripts to communicate information effectively to the terminal interface.

The other options focus on different functionalities: reading user input typically involves commands like 'read', executing scripts usually employs commands such as './script.sh' or 'bash script.sh', and managing system processes is a task handled by commands like 'ps', 'top', or 'kill'. Each of these commands serves a distinct purpose, which is why they do not relate to what 'echo' accomplishes.