Drush is a command-line shell and scripting interface for managing and administering Drupal websites. Drupal is a popular open-source content management system (CMS) used for building websites and web applications. It provides a set of command-line tools that allow developers and site administrators to perform various tasks and operations on Drupal installations.

Key Concepts:

Command-line Interface: It operates through a command-line interface (CLI), which means it is primarily used via the terminal or command prompt. This allows for efficient and scriptable management of Drupal sites, making it particularly useful for automation and scripting tasks.

Features: It offers a wide range of features and commands that streamline Drupal site administration. Some of the key capabilities include:

Site Installation: It enables quick and automated Drupal installations, allowing you to set up new sites with minimal manual effort.

Module and Theme Management: You can install, enable, disable, update, and uninstall modules and themes using Drush. This eliminates the need to navigate through the Drupal administrative interface.

Configuration Management: It facilitates the importing and exporting of site configurations, making it easier to deploy and synchronize configuration changes across multiple environments.

Database Operations: It allows you to execute database-related tasks such as running updates, performing backups and restores, importing and exporting databases, and executing SQL queries.

Clearing Caches: It provides commands to clear various Drupal caches, which can be useful during development or when troubleshooting caching-related issues.

Drush Make: Drush includes a "make" command that allows you to define and build Drupal installations using a makefile, which specifies the modules, themes, and libraries required for the site.

Drush Versions: It has evolved over time, with different versions available for different Drupal releases. Drush 9 and later versions are designed to work with Drupal 8 and Drupal 9, while older versions (such as Drush 8) were intended for Drupal 7.

Drush and Drupal Console: It's worth mentioning that there is another command-line tool called Drupal Console, which serves a similar purpose to Drush. Drupal Console focuses on Drupal 8 and Drupal 9, providing a CLI specifically tailored for those versions. Both Drush and Drupal Console offer overlapping functionality, and the choice between them often comes down to personal preference and project requirements.

IT is widely used within the Drupal community due to its efficiency and convenience. It helps streamline administrative tasks, automate workflows, and enhance developer productivity when working with Drupal websites.