Virtual console

It is a feature of some Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, BSD, illumos, UnixWare, and macOS in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between multiple virtual consoles to access unrelated user interfaces.

The graphical X Window System traditionally starts in the seventh virtual console (tty7), although this is configuration dependent.

To switch from the X Window System or a Wayland compositor, Ctrl + Alt + F1 works.

If several sessions of the X Window System are required to run in parallel, such as in the case of fast user switching or when debugging X programs on a separate X server, each X session usually runs in a separate virtual console.

Unix workstations, such as those manufactured by Sun or Silicon Graphics, did not include virtual consoles.