bash terminal - prompt cursor changes from $ to > upon entering invalid command

Question

I used the Terminal application in Mac OS X to remove some hidden files (i believe this uses the bash shell by default). I inadvertently misspelt my command and, upon hitting the Enter key, my prompt cursor changed from:

username$

to simply:

>

I could only exit to the previos cursor with CTRL + D. Had I entered a sub-session for a different shell? Why did this happen?

Answer 1

You started a shell structure (quoted string, for or while loop, etc.) and bash was waiting for you to complete it. You can press CtrlC to abort the command.