Execute in Background

[Prog]

In SSH or the terminal is it possible to execute a program in the background? For instance:

$ updatedb

Which ties up your terminal for 10-20 minutes. Is it possible to do this in the background and still be able to use the terminal?

[Jordan]

Use the & key. Example:

$ updatedb&

This will execute the process in the background and send messages to your terminal.

[Prog]

So the & forks it, so to say, and makes it a new process?