How is Net Use different from PUSHD and the Windows Explorer?

NET USE, PUSHD, and Windows Explorer are all different tools and commands in Windows, and they serve different purposes:

1. NET USE:

   • NET USE is a command-line tool in Windows used to manage network connections (network drives or network resources).
   • It allows you to map network drives to local drive letters or connect to network resources like printers or shared folders.
   • For example, you can use NET USE to connect to a network share with a specific drive letter:

     yamlCopy code
     NET USE Z: \\server\share
     
     

   • The mapped network drives created with NET USE are available to all applications and scripts running in the user context.

2. PUSHD:

   • PUSHD is also a command-line tool in Windows used to change the current directory and save the current directory for future use.
   • It is typically used in batch scripts to switch directories temporarily and then switch back to the original directory later.
   • For example, to change to the "C:\Temp" directory and save the current directory for later use, you can use:

     mathematicaCopy code
     PUSHD C:\Temp
     
     

   • After running other commands or scripts, you can use POPD to return to the original directory:

     Copy code
     POPD
     
     

   • PUSHD and POPD only affect the current command prompt session and do not create permanent changes to the file system.

3. Windows Explorer:

   • Windows Explorer is the file management application in Windows that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for interacting with files, folders, and drives.
   • It allows users to browse and navigate the file system, view and manage files, and perform various file operations like copy, move, delete, etc.
   • Windows Explorer allows you to access network drives and network resources like printers and shared folders.
   • Unlike the command-line tools (NET USE and PUSHD), Windows Explorer provides a more user-friendly and interactive way to manage files and network resources.

In summary, NET USE is used for creating network connections, PUSHD is used for temporarily changing directories in batch scripts, and Windows Explorer is a GUI tool for file and resource management in Windows. They have different use cases and complement each other for managing files, directories, and network resources in Windows.