Glossary Term

5250 Terminal

A terminal device running the 5250 data stream protocol used for direct interaction with IBM i green-screen applications.

Definition

5250 terminals present the classic IBM i green-screen interface used on plant floors, warehouses, and counter operations where a full workstation is impractical. They can be attached via legacy twinax cabling or through IP-based 5250 emulation hardware.

Hardware buyers in this category are usually replacing aging or failing units rather than starting fresh, which makes compatibility with the existing controller and cabling setup a key evaluation point.

Example

A shipping department may still use physical 5250 terminals at each dock door to confirm orders directly against IBM i inventory records.