The Bourne shell, also known as sh, is a command-line interpreter for Unix operating systems. Developed by Stephen Bourne at Bell Labs in the 1970s, it provides a user interface for executing commands and scripts. The Bourne shell is known for its simplicity and efficiency, making it a foundational tool in Unix-like environments. As one of the earliest shells, the Bourne shell influenced many other shells, including the Bash shell and Korn shell. It supports features like variables, control structures, and input/output redirection, allowing users to automate tasks and manage system operations effectively.