Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface) is Microsoft's cross-platform command-line tool for managing Azure cloud resources from Windows, macOS, and Linux environments. It wraps the Azure REST API, allowing administrators and developers to create, modify, delete, and query resources using concise commands in Bash, PowerShell, or Cmd. Unlike Azure PowerShell (which uses .NET cmdlets), Azure CLI uses a simple, consistent verb-noun syntax (az <group> <subgroup> <command>) that is easier to learn and script across different shells. A key differentiator is its JMESPath query engine, which enables powerful filtering and transformation of JSON output directly in the terminal—critical for building automation scripts that parse complex Azure responses without external tools.

---