The first parameter to the shell is known as $1, the second as $2, etc. The collection of ALL parameters is known as $*.
Consider the following as an example:
#!/bin/sh
echo the first parameter is $1
echo the second parameter is $2
echo the collection of ALL parameters is $*
exit 0
The output of that program could be:
prompt> prog first second
the first parameter is first
the second parameter is second
the collection of ALL parameters is first second
prompt>
Only nine parameters can be read using the $number scheme. The $* along with the shift instruction is one way to read the remainder of the parameters. Another way is to use the for var in $* command, to be seen in the upcoming Control Structures section.