What is the AWS CLI?
The AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI) is an open source tool that lets you control AWS services using commands in your command-line shell. With minimal configuration you get functionality equivalent to that provided by the browser-based AWS Management Console.
The CLI provides direct access to the public APIs of AWS services. You can explore a service’s capabilities and write shell scripts to manage your resources. In addition to the low-level, API-equivalent commands, several AWS services provide customizations: higher-level commands that simplify working with a complex API.
Core Features
- Full service access: Direct access to the public APIs of AWS services
- Cross-platform: Linux and macOS shells such as bash, zsh, and tcsh, the Windows command prompt and PowerShell
- Remote use: Run commands on Amazon EC2 instances through SSH, PuTTY, or AWS Systems Manager
- Auto-prompt: Suggestions for commands, parameters, resources, and documentation while typing
- Tab completion: Complete partially entered commands
- Command history: Track executed commands with
aws history listandaws history show - Sign-in with console credentials: Programmatic access via
aws login - Customizations: Simplified, higher-level commands for services with complex APIs
Typical Use Cases
Automation: Turn repetitive tasks into shell scripts instead of performing them manually in the console.
Operations and troubleshooting: Inspect resources from the terminal, read configurations, and trace changes.
CI/CD: Embed deployment and management steps into build pipelines.
Multiple accounts and Regions: Switch between environments using profiles and explicit Region settings.
Benefits
- One tool for all AWS services instead of service-specific clients
- Scriptable, therefore reproducible and automatable
- Per the documentation, new IaaS features are available through API and CLI at launch or within 180 days
- Runs locally, on servers, and in pipelines
- Open source and not charged separately
Integration with innFactory
As an AWS Reseller, innFactory supports you with the AWS CLI: setting up profiles and sign-in flows for multi-account environments, migrating from version 1 to version 2 including a review of breaking changes, building reusable scripts for operational tasks, and integrating the CLI securely into CI/CD pipelines.
Typical Use Cases
Technical Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AWS CLI?
Per the documentation, the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI) is an open source tool that lets you interact with AWS services using commands in your command-line shell. With minimal configuration it provides functionality equivalent to that of the browser-based AWS Management Console.
Does the CLI cover everything the console does?
Per the documentation, all IaaS administration, management, and access functions in the AWS Management Console are available in the AWS API and AWS CLI. New AWS IaaS features and services provide full AWS Management Console functionality through the API and CLI at launch or within 180 days of launch.
Which version should I use?
Per the documentation, version 2 is the most recent major version and supports all of the latest features; some of them are not backported to version 1. There are breaking changes between versions that may require script changes, and AWS provides a migration guide for them.
Where does the AWS CLI run?
Per the documentation, in common Linux and macOS shells such as bash, zsh, and tcsh, in the Windows command prompt and PowerShell, and in remote sessions, for example through SSH, PuTTY, or AWS Systems Manager on Amazon EC2 instances.
Which convenience features does version 2 provide?
Per the product page these include tab completion for partially entered commands, auto-prompt with suggestions for commands, parameters, resources, and documentation, command history through aws history list and aws history show, and programmatic access using existing console credentials via aws login.
What does the AWS CLI cost?
The AWS CLI is open source and is not charged separately. Per the documentation, AWS uses a pay-as-you-go service model: you are charged only for the services that you or your applications use.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of AWS (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by AWS.