[iTerm2 Series 1] What is iTerm2?

When you start coding on a Mac, one of the first tools you meet is the terminal. macOS already includes the Terminal app, and it is fully usable for learning Git, npm, and basic shell commands. Many developers still switch to iTerm2 because it makes repeated terminal work more comfortable. In this post, we'll compare the two so you can see why iTerm2 becomes useful before we install it in the next step of the series.

What we'll cover

• Spot the differences between Terminal and iTerm2
• Try the core iTerm2 features yourself
• Decide whether iTerm2 fits your workflow

Why you need this tool

Typical tasks you run in a terminal

You might not do all of these on day one, but these are the kinds of tasks you will soon repeat often:

• Git commands (git add, git commit, git push)
• Package installs (npm install, pip install)
• Starting servers (python app.py, npm start)
• Navigating files (ls, cd, pwd)

Because you run these commands dozens of times a day, using a comfortable terminal directly impacts your productivity.

Limits of the default Terminal

The default Terminal is good enough for basic work, but it has a few limits compared with iTerm2:

• Split the screen side by side
• Show smart suggestions for paths and repeated commands in a popup list
• Search long output with regex patterns
• Customize shortcuts and profiles in more detail

Try it quickly first

Open the default Terminal

You should see something like this after Terminal opens:

Last login: Thu Mar 13 10:30:45 on ttys000
hwansi@MacBook-Pro ~ %

The % at the end is the prompt. It means Terminal is ready for your next command.

Tip: The default Terminal usually follows your system light or dark appearance. iTerm2 gives you many more profile and theme options if you want to customize the look later.

How we'll install iTerm2 in the next post

In this series, we'll install iTerm2 with Homebrew, a package manager for macOS. If Homebrew is new to you, that is fine. For now, just think of it as a simple way to install and update developer tools with one command.

Here is the command we will use in the next post:

We use Homebrew instead of manual downloads for three practical reasons:

1. You follow a single-line install command.
2. Updates are one command: brew upgrade --cask iterm2.
3. Removal is just as easy with brew uninstall --cask iterm2.

How this tool changes your workflow

Terminal vs. iTerm2 at a glance

Walk through the main differences

1) Split panes: see two sessions at once

If you run a server in one session and check logs in another, tabs make you switch back and forth. iTerm2 can divide one window into multiple panes, which means sub-windows inside the same terminal window.

In iTerm2:

Command + D      → Horizontal split (left/right)
Command + Shift + D  → Vertical split (top/bottom)

Default Terminal: Tabs (Command+T) only, so you cannot see multiple sessions at once.

2) Search: find errors faster in long output

Both apps let you search text, but iTerm2 becomes more helpful when the output is long and you want stronger highlighting or pattern matching.

In iTerm2:

Command + F      → Open the search bar
Command + G      → Next result
Command + Shift + G  → Previous result

• Matches are highlighted in yellow
• Regex search is supported when you need pattern matching such as error.*failed

Default Terminal also supports search, but iTerm2 gives you more control when you search large logs.

3) Smarter suggestions: reuse commands and paths

The default Terminal already lets you recall previous commands with the arrow keys or Ctrl+R. iTerm2 adds a suggestion list that can be easier for beginners when they only remember part of a command or path.

In iTerm2:

Command + ;      → Show autocomplete list

• iTerm2 suggests previously typed commands and paths.
• Example: type cd Doc, then Command+; to see Documents.

4) Customization: shape the terminal around your habits

If you spend a lot of time in the terminal, small comfort changes add up. iTerm2 gives you more control over themes, shortcuts, and profiles than the default Terminal.

In iTerm2:

Profiles → Colors, fonts, cursor, window behavior
Keys → Remap shortcuts to fit your workflow
Profiles → Save different setups for different projects

That matters more as terminal work becomes a daily habit.

When the default Terminal is enough

You do not need iTerm2 on day one. The default Terminal is enough if you are:

• Learning basic shell commands
• Running one task at a time
• Following beginner Git or npm tutorials
• Exploring the terminal for the first time

iTerm2 becomes more valuable when you want split panes, stronger search, or more customization.

Who benefits the most

• Developers or students who live in the terminal every day
• Anyone who wants to run several tasks simultaneously with split panes
• People who want more theme and profile options
• Keyboard-first users who want shortcuts for everything

Quick comparison recap

Good to know: iTerm2 is free, and installing it does not replace the default Terminal. You can keep both apps and decide which one fits your workflow better.

Up next

Now that you understand the benefits, let’s install and configure iTerm2.

iTerm2 Series 2: Install and basic setup walks through the Homebrew install, fonts, themes, and starter settings.

Practice checklist

• Opened the default Terminal at least once
• Understood what the prompt means
• Noticed which iTerm2 features would help my workflow
• Ready to install iTerm2 in the next post