Type (Unix)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Unix and Unix-like operating systems, type is a command that describes how its arguments would be interpreted if used as command names.
| type | |
|---|---|
 Examples of type command | |
| Original author | AT&T Corporation |
| Developers | Various open-source and commercial developers |
| Initial release | 1984 |
| Operating system | Unix and Unix-like |
| Platform | Cross-platform |
| Type | Command |
Function
Where applicable, type will display the command name's path.[1][2] Possible command types are:
- shell built-in
- function
- alias
- hashed command
- keyword
The command returns a non-zero exit status if command names cannot be found.
Examples
$ type test
test is a shell builtin
$ type cp
cp is /bin/cp
$ type unknown
unknown not found
$ type type
type is a shell builtin
History
The type command was a shell builtin for Bourne shell that was introduced in AT&T's System V Release 2 (SVR2) in 1984,[3] and continues to be included in many other POSIX-compatible shells such as Bash. However, type is not part of the POSIX standard. With a POSIX shell, similar behavior is retrieved with
command -V name
In the KornShell, the command whence provides similar functionality.[4]
The command is available as a separate package for Microsoft Windows as part of the UnxUtils collection of native Win32 ports of common GNU Unix-like utilities.[5]
See also
