Pause Scripts with 'Press Any Key' in Bash, CMD, PowerShell, and macOS

Batch files and shell scripts often need a short wait so a double-clicked window or installer log stays visible. Windows CMD has a dedicated pause command. Unix shells use read . PowerShell sits in the middle and needs an explicit pattern. This page collects portable snippets and the usual pitfalls (pipes, SSH without TTY, CI). For more shell references, see the Bash cheat sheet and PowerShell cheatsheet . For broader tooling workflows, visit Developer Tools: The Complete Guide to Modern Develop