In the context of telecommunications, a terminal is a device which ends a telecommunications link and is the point at which a signal enters or leaves a network. Examples of terminal equipment include telephones, fax machines, computer terminals, printers and workstations.

A prime example of a modern terminal is Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). Opened in 2008 and used exclusively by British Airways and Iberia, this terminal acts as a "city within a city," handling over 30 million passengers annually. It features a massive main building (Concourse A) and two satellite buildings (Concourse B and C) connected by an underground automated people mover. This terminal is an "end-to-end" facility where a passenger’s journey begins with check-in and ends at the boarding gate. Other famous examples include the Grand Central Terminal in New York City, which is a world-renowned rail terminal, or the Port of Miami's Cruise Terminal V, which is a dedicated facility for Virgin Voyages. In all these cases, the "terminal" serves as the interface between the local ground transportation (cars, buses, trains) and the long-distance vehicle (airplane, ship, or train), providing essential services like security, customs, baggage handling, and retail/dining for travelers in transition.