type (Unix)
Appearance
In Unix, type is a command that describes how its arguments would be interpreted if used as command names.
Function
Where applicable, type
will display the command name's path. 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,[1] 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 Korn shell, the command whence
provides similar functionality.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "traditional Bourne shell family / history and development". www.in-ulm.de. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
- ^
Siever, Ellen (2005). Linux in a Nutshell. Nutshell handbooks. O'Reilly Media, Inc. p. 695. ISBN 9780596009304. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
whence [...] Korn shell only. Show whether each command is a Unix command, a built-in command, a defined shell function, or an alias.