Yes, that is correct. **Zsh (Z shell)** became the default interactive shell for **Kali Linux** starting with the **2020.4** release.
Before that change, Kali followed the long-standing tradition of using **Bash** (Bourne Again Shell) as the default.
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### Why the switch?
The Kali team moved to Zsh for several practical reasons that make it feel a bit more "modern" and user-friendly for penetration testing:
* **Advanced Auto-completion:** Zsh can "tab-complete" almost anything—commands, options, file paths, and even remote SSH hosts—often with a helpful menu you can navigate with arrow keys.
* **Theming & Customization:** It allows for highly informative prompts. By default, Kali uses a customized theme that provides visual cues about your current directory and command status.
* **Plugin Ecosystem:** Through frameworks like **Oh My Zsh**, users can easily add plugins for tools like `git`, `docker`, or specific security tools.
* **Shared History:** You can configure Zsh so that all open terminal windows share the same command history in real-time.
### How to check or change it
If you are on an older installation or just prefer the classic feel, you can easily manage your shell environment:
| Action | Command |
| --- | --- |
| **Check current shell** | `echo $SHELL` |
| **Switch to Bash (temporary)** | `bash` |
| **Switch to Bash (permanent)** | `chsh -s /bin/bash` |
| **Switch to Zsh (permanent)** | `chsh -s /bin/zsh` |
> **Note:** Even though Zsh is the default for *interactive* use (what you see when you open a terminal), most system scripts in Kali still use `#!/bin/sh` or `#!/bin/bash` to ensure maximum compatibility.