# microsoftdocs/terminal architecture

> Architecture diagram of the GitHub repository microsoftdocs/terminal, generated by GitDiagram from its file tree, README and a sample of source files (last updated 2026-11-15). It is an AI-made overview: check details against the source.

- Interactive diagram: https://gitdiagram.com/microsoftdocs/terminal
- Repository: https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal

## Overview

This repository is the Markdown source for Windows Terminal documentation, not the terminal product itself. Readers use the published docs to learn installation, everyday terminal features, customization, and advanced workflows; contributors edit the corresponding source files. The README documents that published pages link back to source, but no source excerpts establish calls or processing between documentation sections. The map therefore groups the major documented topics without implying an internal runtime pipeline.

Main entry points: [`TerminalDocs/index.md`](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/index.md) (Documentation landing)

## Diagram (Mermaid)

```mermaid
flowchart TD

subgraph group_getting_started["Getting started"]
  node_landing["Documentation landing<br/>[index.md]"]
  node_installation["Installation<br/>[install.md]"]
  node_arguments["Command-line arguments"]
end

subgraph group_terminal_use["Terminal use"]
  node_command_palette["Command palette<br/>[command-palette.md]"]
  node_panes["Panes<br/>[panes.md]"]
  node_selection["Selection<br/>[selection.md]"]
end

subgraph group_customization["Customization"]
  node_settings["Settings"]
  node_profiles["Dynamic profiles"]
  node_themes["Themes and schemes"]
end

subgraph group_advanced["Advanced workflows"]
  node_shell_integration["Shell integration"]
  node_ssh["SSH workflows<br/>[ssh.md]"]
  node_terminal_chat["Terminal Chat<br/>[terminal-chat.md]"]
  node_group_policy["Group policy<br/>[group-policy.md]"]
end

node_reader(("Documentation reader"))
node_author(("Documentation contributor"))
node_published_docs["Published documentation"]

node_reader -->|"reads"| node_published_docs
node_published_docs -->|"links to source"| node_author
node_author -->|"edits source"| node_landing

click node_landing "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/index.md"
click node_installation "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/install.md"
click node_arguments "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/command-line-arguments.md"
click node_command_palette "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/command-palette.md"
click node_panes "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/panes.md"
click node_selection "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/selection.md"
click node_settings "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/tree/main/TerminalDocs/customize-settings"
click node_profiles "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/dynamic-profiles.md"
click node_themes "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/tree/main/TerminalDocs/custom-terminal-gallery"
click node_shell_integration "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/tutorials/shell-integration.md"
click node_ssh "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/tutorials/ssh.md"
click node_terminal_chat "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/terminal-chat.md"
click node_group_policy "https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/group-policy.md"

classDef toneNeutral fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#334155,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#0f172a
classDef toneBlue fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#172554
classDef toneAmber fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#78350f
classDef toneMint fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#14532d
classDef toneRose fill:#ffe4e6,stroke:#e11d48,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#881337
classDef toneIndigo fill:#e0e7ff,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#312e81
classDef toneTeal fill:#ccfbf1,stroke:#0f766e,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#134e4a
class node_landing,node_installation,node_arguments toneBlue
class node_command_palette,node_panes,node_selection toneAmber
class node_settings,node_profiles,node_themes toneMint
class node_shell_integration,node_ssh,node_terminal_chat,node_group_policy toneRose
class node_reader,node_author,node_published_docs toneIndigo
```

## Components

### Getting started

- [Documentation landing](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/index.md): `TerminalDocs/index.md`
- [Installation](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/install.md): `TerminalDocs/install.md`
- [Command-line arguments](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/command-line-arguments.md): `TerminalDocs/command-line-arguments.md`

### Terminal use

- [Command palette](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/command-palette.md): `TerminalDocs/command-palette.md`
- [Panes](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/panes.md): `TerminalDocs/panes.md`
- [Selection](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/selection.md): `TerminalDocs/selection.md`

### Customization

- [Settings](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/tree/main/TerminalDocs/customize-settings): `TerminalDocs/customize-settings`
- [Dynamic profiles](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/dynamic-profiles.md): `TerminalDocs/dynamic-profiles.md`
- [Themes and schemes](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/tree/main/TerminalDocs/custom-terminal-gallery): `TerminalDocs/custom-terminal-gallery`

### Advanced workflows

- [Shell integration](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/tutorials/shell-integration.md): `TerminalDocs/tutorials/shell-integration.md`
- [SSH workflows](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/tutorials/ssh.md): `TerminalDocs/tutorials/ssh.md`
- [Terminal Chat](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/terminal-chat.md): `TerminalDocs/terminal-chat.md`
- [Group policy](https://github.com/microsoftdocs/terminal/blob/main/TerminalDocs/group-policy.md): `TerminalDocs/group-policy.md`

### Other components

- **Documentation reader**
- **Documentation contributor**
- **Published documentation**

## Connections

- Documentation reader → Published documentation: reads (evidence: `README.md`)
- Published documentation → Documentation contributor: links to source (evidence: `README.md`)
- Documentation contributor → Documentation landing: edits source (evidence: `README.md`)