The Bourne Shell is a command-line interpreter for the Unix operating system, created by Stephen Bourne in the 1970s. It allows users to execute commands, run scripts, and manage system tasks through a text-based interface. The Bourne Shell is known for its simplicity and efficiency, making it a foundational tool in Unix environments. As one of the earliest shells, the Bourne Shell influenced many other shells, including the Bash (Bourne Again SHell) and KornShell. It supports features like variables, control structures, and input/output redirection, which are essential for scripting and automation in Unix-like systems.