shelling

Shelling is the act of firing artillery shells at a target or area, typically as part of military operations. It is used to support ground forces, suppress enemy positions, destroy fortifications, or deny terrain. Shelling can be delivered by various artillery systems such as howitzers, field guns, mortars, and rocket launchers. The effects include blast damage, fragmentation injuries, fires, and structural collapse.

In conflict reporting, shelling is distinguished from bombing, since the former involves ground-based or sea-based artillery rather than aircraft. International humanitarian law seeks to limit harm to civilians by requiring distinction between military targets and civilians, proportional use of force, and precautions to minimize civilian casualties.

Beyond military usage, shelling also refers to the removal of shells or husks from foods and agricultural products, such as peanut shelling or corn shelling, and the processing of seeds and grains.

In computing, shelling is not a standard term; the shell is a program that provides a user interface to the operating system, and related phrases such as shelling out or shell scripting describe adjacent activities.