> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.replit.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Shell
> Learn how to use the Shell to run commands in the Project Editor.
Shell lets you perform tasks on the operating system in the Project Editor such as managing files,
installing packages, and running scripts. It provides a powerful text-based interface to
interact with your Replit environment.
You can use Shell to run the following tasks in the Project Editor:
* Execute scripts and programs
* Install and run popular Linux tools and packages
* Upload and download files from the internet
* Manage project files and directories
For better workflow management, prefer the **Run** button instead of running your app from
the Shell. The workflow started by the **Run** button sends output to the Console tool,
which provides a structured way to review the logs.
## Features
Shell provides the following capabilities:
* **Run multiple shells**: Open multiple shell instances to work on different tasks simultaneously
* **Search for text**: Find specific text in the shell output
## Usage
From the left **Tool dock**:
1. Select 
**All tools** to see a list of Project Editor tools.
2. Select 
**Shell**.
From the **Search bar**:
1. Select the 
magnifying glass at the top to open the search tool
2. Type "Shell" to locate the tool and select it from the results.
### Text search
The following steps describe how to access and use the text search tool:
1. Select the magnifying glass at the top right of the Shell tab to open the search dialog.
2. Enter a search term and select **Next** to navigate through the matches.
3. Use **Previous** to go back to prior matches.
4. Select **Exit** or click outside the dialog to exit the text search.
### Multiple shells
To create a new shell, select the menu at the top left of the **Shell** tab arrow and select **New Shell** as shown below:
Use the same menu to switch between shells. The Project Editor labels each shell with the last command executed to help you identify them.
When you open more than one shell, Replit automatically closes idle shell instances.
An idle shell is unselected and not running any user processes.
## Next steps
To learn more about related Project Editor tools see the following resources:
* [Console](/core-concepts/project-editor/editor-and-tools/console/): Learn how to use Console to monitor your Replit App workflows.