Batch file and batch job

1. A batch file or batch job is a collection, or list, of commands that are processed in sequence often without requiring user input or intervention. With a computer running a Microsoft operating system such as Windows, a batch file is stored as a file with a .bat file extension. Other operating systems may define a batch job in a command file or shell script, with two or more commands that are processed one after another to perform one or more specific tasks.

Batch files are often used to help load programs, run multiple processes at a time, and perform common or repetitive tasks. For example, a batch job could be used to back up many files on a computer system, process log files, run a series of calculation commands, run multiple system diagnostic processes, or any number of other things that require multiple commands to be run. A big advantage of a batch job is that it can be started at any time and left alone until they are completed, freeing up the time of one or more people to perform other tasks.

Below is a basic example of a Windows batch file that clears the screen using the cls command and then runs the dir command in the current directory.

@echo off
cls
dir

• Windows and MS-DOS batch file help and examples.
  

2. The batch command is a recovery console command that executes a series of commands. See the batch command page for full information on this command.

Also see: Autoexec.bat, Programming definitions