MacBook Pro and Mac Air - "external monitor"

Is it possible to connect MacBook Pro and Mac Air and use one as an "external monitor"? And if so, which cable would I need?

Hi Hello1852,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
To use another Mac as a secondary display with your Mac, it will need to be an iMac, not a portable Mac.  To learn more about using another Mac as a secondary display, take a look at the article below.
Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Cheers,
Alex H.

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