> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.instapods.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Web Terminal

> Access a full terminal inside your pod directly from the browser.

The web terminal gives you a full interactive shell inside your pod — no SSH keys, no local tools, just click and type.

## Accessing the Terminal

1. Go to your pod's detail page at `/dashboard/pods/{name}`
2. Click the **Terminal** tab
3. A terminal session opens immediately (pod must be running)

The terminal connects via WebSocket and runs a bash login shell as the `instapod` user, starting in your pod's app directory (`/home/instapod/app`).

## Features

* **Full bash shell** — Run any command: install packages, edit files, manage services, run scripts
* **Auto-resize** — Terminal adapts when you resize the browser window
* **Clickable links** — URLs in terminal output are clickable
* **Reconnect** — If the connection drops, click the **Reconnect** button to start a new session
* **No setup required** — No SSH keys or external tools needed

## Terminal Theme

The terminal uses a dark theme matching the InstaPods brand:

* Background: dark (`#0a0a0a`)
* Text: light gray
* Cursor: green (`#22C55E`)
* Font: JetBrains Mono / Fira Code / system monospace

## Terminal vs SSH

|                     | Web Terminal                    | SSH                             |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| **Setup**           | None — click and go             | Requires SSH key setup          |
| **User**            | `instapod`                      | `instapod`                      |
| **Start directory** | App root (`/home/instapod/app`) | App root (`~/app`)              |
| **Persistence**     | Session ends when tab closes    | Persistent with tmux/screen     |
| **Multiplexing**    | One session per tab             | Multiple sessions via tmux      |
| **Access**          | Browser only                    | Any SSH client                  |
| **Availability**    | Requires dashboard access       | Works even if dashboard is down |

<Tip>
  Use the web terminal for quick tasks — checking logs, restarting services, running one-off commands. For longer sessions or persistent work, use SSH with tmux or screen.
</Tip>

## Requirements

* Pod must be in **running** status
* Browser must support WebSockets (all modern browsers do)

## Common Tasks

```bash theme={null}
# Check what's running
systemctl status app

# View recent logs
journalctl -u app --no-pager -n 50

# Install a system package
sudo apt-get install -y htop

# Check disk usage
df -h

# Monitor processes
htop
```

<Note>
  The terminal runs as the `instapod` user (non-root). Use `sudo` for system-level commands like installing packages.
</Note>