pico Primer for Competitors - Shell Chapter - Got Shell? Section

Answer 4

Q.4: What does `$` mean?

A.4: `$` is a separator. Everything before it is the computer generated prompt and everything after is the user typed command

Note on answer: Most example commands I show will start with `$` just as an indicator that the example command is ran in the shell.

mmmmm not really.

TL;DR

$ is a standard privilege user
# is root. No passwords or sudo needed.
The reason you often see a $ sign in an example is to show you which user you need to be in order for the script / command to work.
End TL:DR

Example 1: Q0h313th@pico-2019-shelll1:~$

The dollar sign in example 1 indicates you're running your commands as a standard user and need elevated permissions for certain commands. When you use sudo it is because you do not have root privileges. You use sudo to temporarily elevate your privileges and then enter the accounts password. if your account looked like:

Example 2: root@pico-2019-shelll1:~#

[notice the pound (often referred to as a hashtag in mainstream media now) verses the $ dollar sign] In example 2 you are now running as root. A command which previously needed sudo followed by your accounts password scan now be entered without sudo and it will run. This is obviously very dangerous, which is why the $ user and the need of sudo with a password following was set up.

A more accurate and concise answer can be found here:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35104339/what-does-the-mean-in-command-line-commands/48215530#48215530

thanks @Exzou was wondering the difference between the '$' and the '#' on my kali linux shell but is root just like admin privileges?

Yes @jmorgan28-01. You're right.