Terminology: 'console' = 'terminal' ?

Dears,

few questions about console / terminal :

- a console needs an X-server, a terminal don't ?
- if so, anything running in a console (meaning not using a whatever GUI) can run in a terminal ?

- what about environment variable DISPLAY ?

My questions are related to my research of a music stream radio player on a thin client with low memory. I intend to use this thin client as a radio player only and so will avoid X-server running on it to spare resources.
I found (and received from forums) links to different music players but feel confused about their requirements of console / terminal / X-server and GUIs.

Thanks.

Bye,
Bruno

Check the following link for info on virtual consoles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_console_(PC)

Note that some applications require an xserver to run, while others won't.

So there are few terms here.

"Console" generally refers to a text-based environment. A CLI (comand line interface) program generally runs in a console, and does not require an X server. Some programs may have both CLI and GUI versions to accomodate people who don't want to run an X server.

A "terminal" is what displays the console. In particular, this is divided into two areas: "virtual terminals" and "terminal emulators". Most Linux systems have six virtual terminals: they are accessible by pressing Ctrl-Alt-F1, Ctrl-Alt-F2, etc. X usually runs on the 7th one (Ctrl-Alt-F7). A terminal emulator is a graphical program that displays a console: examples are GNOME Terminal, Konsole, xterm, aterm, rxvt, etc.

In general, an application that runs in a console can run in either a virtual terminal or a terminal emulator.

Does that help?

Thanks for explanations.
Indeed it helps and make it more clear.

Bye,
Bruno