List of Unix commands
This is a list of Unix commands as specified by IEEE Std 1003.1-2008, which is part of
the Single UNIX Specification (SUS). These commands can be found on Unix operating systems
and most Unix-like operating systems.
Contents
1List
2See also
3Footnotes
4External links
List[edit]
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
admin Optional Create and
SCCS PWB UNIX
(XSI) administer SCCS files
alias Misc Mandatory Define or display aliases
ar Create and Version 1 AT&T
Misc Mandatory
maintain library archives UNIX
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Text Optional Interpret carriage-control
asa System V
processing (FR) characters
at Process Execute commands at a later Version 7 AT&T
Mandatory
management time UNIX
Text Pattern scanning and Version 7 AT&T
awk Mandatory
processing processing language UNIX
basename Return non-directory portion of Version 7 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory
a pathname; see also dirname UNIX
Process Schedule commands to be
batch Mandatory
management executed in a batch queue
bc Arbitrary-precision Version 6 AT&T
Misc Mandatory
arithmetic language UNIX
Process Optional
bg Run jobs in the background
management (UP)
C Optional IEEE Std 1003.1-
cc/c99 Compile standard C programs
programming (CD) 2001
Optional Version 5 AT&T
cal Misc Print a calendar
(XSI) UNIX
cat Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Concatenate and print files
UNIX
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Version 6 AT&T
cd Filesystem Mandatory Change the working directory
UNIX
cflow C Optional Generate a C-language call
System V
programming (XSI) graph
Change the file group
chgrp Filesystem Mandatory PWB UNIX
ownership
chmod Change the file Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory
modes/attributes/permissions UNIX
Version 1 AT&T
chown Filesystem Mandatory Change the file ownership
UNIX
cksum Filesystem Mandatory Write file checksums and sizes 4.4BSD
Version 1 AT&T
cmp Filesystem Mandatory Compare two files; see also diff
UNIX
comm Text Select or reject lines common Version 4 AT&T
Mandatory
processing to two files UNIX
Shell
command Mandatory Execute a simple command
programming
compress Optional
Filesystem Compress data 4.3BSD
(XSI)
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Version 1 AT&T
cp Filesystem Mandatory Copy files
UNIX
crontab Schedule periodic background
Misc Mandatory System V
work
Text
csplit Mandatory Split files based on context PWB UNIX
processing
ctags C Optional
Create a tags file 3BSD
programming (SD)
Text Cut out selected fields of each
cut Mandatory System III
processing line of a file
Generate a C-
C Optional
cxref language program cross- System V
programming (XSI)
reference table
Version 1 AT&T
date Misc Mandatory Display the date and time
UNIX
dd Version 5 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Convert and copy a file
UNIX
Optional Make a delta (change) to an
delta SCCS PWB UNIX
(XSI) SCCS file
df Filesystem Mandatory Report free disk space Version 1 AT&T
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
UNIX
diff Text Compare two files; see also Version 5 AT&T
Mandatory
processing cmp UNIX
Return the directory portion of a
dirname Filesystem Mandatory System III
pathname; see also basename
du Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Estimate file space usage
UNIX
Shell Write arguments to standard Version 2 AT&T
echo Mandatory
programming output UNIX
ed Text Version 1 AT&T
Mandatory The standard text editor
processing UNIX
Set the environment for
env Misc Mandatory System III
command invocation
ex Text Optional
Text editor 1BSD
processing (XSI)
Text
expand Mandatory Convert tabs to spaces 3BSD
processing
expr Shell Evaluate arguments as an Version 7 AT&T
Mandatory
programming expression UNIX
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Shell Version 7 AT&T
false Mandatory Return false value
programming UNIX
fc Optional Process the command history
Misc
(UP) list
Process Optional
fg Run jobs in the foreground
management (UP)
file Version 4 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Determine file type
UNIX
Version 1 AT&T
find Filesystem Mandatory Find files
UNIX
fold Text
Mandatory Filter for folding lines 1BSD
processing
FORTRAN77 Obsolescent
fort77 FORTRAN compiler XPG4
programming (FD)
List process IDs of all
Process Optional
fuser processes that have one or System V
management (XSI)
more files open
Generate a formatted message
gencat Misc Mandatory
catalog
get SCCS Optional Get a version of an SCCS file PWB UNIX
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
(XSI)
getconf Misc Mandatory Get configuration values
Shell
getopts Mandatory Parse utility options
programming
grep Version 4 AT&T
Misc Mandatory Search text for a pattern
UNIX
hash Misc Mandatory Hash database access method
head Text PWB UNIX[citation
Mandatory Copy the first part of files
processing needed]
Text
iconv Mandatory Codeset conversion HP-UX
processing
id Misc Mandatory Return user identity System V
Remove a message queue,
ipcrm Optional
Misc semaphore set, or shared System V
(XSI)
memory segment identifier
ipcs Optional Report interprocess
Misc System V
(XSI) communication facilities status
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
jobs Process Optional Display status of jobs in the
management (UP) current session
Merges two sorted text files
Text Version 7 AT&T
join Mandatory based on the presence of a
processing UNIX
common field
Process Version 4 AT&T
kill Mandatory Terminate or signal processes
management UNIX
lex C Optional Generate programs for lexical Version 7 AT&T
programming (CD) tasks UNIX
Optional Version 1 AT&T
link Filesystem Create a hard link to a file
(XSI) UNIX
ln Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Link files
UNIX
locale Misc Mandatory Get locale-specific information
localedef Misc Mandatory Define locale environment
Shell
logger Mandatory Log messages 4.3BSD
programming
logname Misc Mandatory Return the user's login name 4.4BSD
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Text
lp Mandatory Send files to a printer System V
processing
ls Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory List directory contents
UNIX
m4 Misc Mandatory Macro processor PWB UNIX
mailx Version 1 AT&T
Misc Mandatory Process messages
UNIX
Optional Maintain, update, and
make Programming PWB UNIX
(SD) regenerate groups of programs
man Version 2 AT&T
Misc Mandatory Display system documentation
UNIX
Version 1 AT&T
mesg Misc Mandatory Permit or deny messages
UNIX
mkdir Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Make directories
UNIX
mkfifo Filesystem Mandatory Make FIFO special files 4.4BSD[dubious – discuss]
more Text Optional Display files on a page-by-page
3BSD
processing (UP) basis
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Version 1 AT&T
mv Filesystem Mandatory Move or rename files
UNIX
newgrp Version 6 AT&T
Misc Mandatory Change to a new group
UNIX
Process Invoke a utility with an altered Version 4 AT&T
nice Mandatory
management nice value UNIX
nl Text Optional
Line numbering filter System III
processing (XSI)
nm C Optional Write the name list of an object Version 1 AT&T
programming (SD, XSI) file UNIX
nohup Process Invoke a utility immune Version 4 AT&T
Mandatory
management to hangups UNIX
Version 1 AT&T
od Misc Mandatory Dump files in various formats
UNIX
paste Text Merge corresponding or Version 32V
Mandatory
processing subsequent lines of files AT&T UNIX
Text
patch Mandatory Apply changes to files 4.3BSD
processing
pathchk Filesystem Mandatory Check pathnames
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
pax Misc Mandatory Portable archive interchange 4.4BSD[citation needed]
pr Text Version 1 AT&T
Mandatory Print files
processing UNIX
Shell
printf Mandatory Write formatted output 4.3BSD-Reno
programming
prs Optional
SCCS Print an SCCS file PWB UNIX
(XSI)
Process Version 4 AT&T
ps Mandatory Report process status
management UNIX
pwd Version 5 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Print working directory
UNIX
Obsolescent
qalter Batch utilities Alter batch job
(BE)
qdel Obsolescent
Batch utilities Delete batch jobs
(BE)
Obsolescent
qhold Batch utilities Hold batch jobs
(BE)
qmove Obsolescent
Batch utilities Move batch jobs
(BE)
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Obsolescent
qmsg Batch utilities Send message to batch jobs
(BE)
qrerun Obsolescent
Batch utilities Rerun batch jobs
(BE)
Obsolescent
qrls Batch utilities Release batch jobs
(BE)
qselect Obsolescent
Batch utilities Select batch jobs
(BE)
Obsolescent
qsig Batch utilities Signal batch jobs
(BE)
qstat Obsolescent
Batch utilities Show status of batch jobs
(BE)
Obsolescent
qsub Batch utilities Submit a script
(BE)
read Shell
Mandatory Read a line from standard input
programming
Process Set nice values of running
renice Mandatory 4BSD
management processes
rm Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory Remove directory entries
UNIX
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Optional Remove a delta from an SCCS
rmdel SCCS PWB UNIX
(XSI) file
rmdir Remove directories, if they are Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Mandatory
empty. UNIX
Optional Print current SCCS file-editing
sact SCCS System III
(XSI) activity
sccs Optional Front end for the SCCS
SCCS 4.3BSD
(XSI) subsystem
Text Version 7 AT&T
sed Mandatory Stream editor
processing UNIX
Version 7 AT&T
UNIX (in earlier
versions, sh was
Shell Shell, the standard command
sh Mandatory either
programming language interpreter
the Thompson
shell or the PWB
shell)
Shell Suspend execution for an Version 4 AT&T
sleep Mandatory
programming interval UNIX
sort Text Sort, merge, or sequence Version 1 AT&T
Mandatory
processing check text files UNIX
split Misc Mandatory Split files into pieces Version 3 AT&T
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
UNIX
strings C
Mandatory Find printable strings in files 2BSD
programming
Remove unnecessary
strip C Optional Version 1 AT&T
information from executable
programming (SD) UNIX
files
stty Version 2 AT&T
Misc Mandatory Set the options for a terminal
UNIX
tabs Misc Mandatory Set terminal tabs PWB UNIX
tail Text PWB UNIX[citation
Mandatory Copy the last part of a file
processing needed]
Optional
talk Misc Talk to another user 4.2BSD
(UP)
tee Shell Version 5 AT&T
Mandatory Duplicate the standard output
programming UNIX
Shell Version 7 AT&T
test Mandatory Evaluate expression
programming UNIX
time Process Version 3 AT&T
Mandatory Time a simple command
management UNIX
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
Change file access and Version 7 AT&T
touch Filesystem Mandatory
modification times UNIX
tput Misc Mandatory Change terminal characteristics System V
Text Version 4 AT&T
tr Mandatory Translate characters
processing UNIX
true Shell Version 7 AT&T
Mandatory Return true value
programming UNIX
Text Version 7 AT&T
tsort Mandatory Topological sort
processing UNIX
tty Version 1 AT&T
Misc Mandatory Return user's terminal name
UNIX
Displays how a name would be
type Optional
Misc interpreted if used as a
(XSI)
command
ulimit Optional
Misc Set or report file size limit
(XSI)
Get or set the file mode
umask Misc Mandatory System III
creation mask
unalias Misc Mandatory Remove alias definitions
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
uname Misc Mandatory Return system name PWB UNIX
uncompress Misc Optional
Expand compressed data 4.3BSD
(XSI)
Text
unexpand Mandatory Convert spaces to tabs 3BSD
processing
unget Optional Undo a previous get of an
SCCS System III
(XSI) SCCS file
Text Report or filter out repeated Version 3 AT&T
uniq Mandatory
processing lines in a file UNIX
unlink Optional Version 1 AT&T
Filesystem Call the unlink function
(XSI) UNIX
Optional Version 7 AT&T
uucp Network System-to-system copy
(UU) UNIX
uudecode Network Mandatory Decode a binary file 4BSD
uuencode Network Mandatory Encode a binary file 4BSD
uustat Optional uucp status inquiry and job
Network System III
(UU) control
uux Process Optional Remote command execution Version 7 AT&T
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
management (UU) UNIX
val Optional
SCCS Validate SCCS files System III
(XSI)
Text Optional Screen-oriented (visual) display
vi 1BSD
processing (UP) editor
wait Process Version 4 AT&T
Mandatory Await process completion
management UNIX
Text Line, word and byte or Version 1 AT&T
wc Mandatory
processing character count UNIX
what Optional
SCCS Identify SCCS files PWB UNIX
(XSI)
System Version 1 AT&T
who Mandatory Display who is on the system
administration UNIX
write Version 1 AT&T
Misc Mandatory Write to another user's terminal
UNIX
Shell Construct argument lists and
xargs Mandatory PWB UNIX
programming invoke utility
yacc C Optional
Yet another compiler compiler PWB UNIX
programming (CD)
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 utilities
Status
Name Category (Option Description First appeared
code)
4.3BSD
Text Optional
zcat Expand and concatenate data
processing (XSI)
