Linux type Command
Learn Linux type Command with examples
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Linux type Command
In Linux, we can use “type” command is used to display information about the command type.
It is also used to find out whether it is built-in or external binary file.
type Command Syntax
>> type [Options] command-name
type Command Example
>> type ls
ls is aliased to `ls --color=auto'
type Command with Multiple Commands
>> type sleep head
sleep is hashed (/usr/bin/sleep)
head is /usr/bin/head
type -a Command
The output will show you that pwd is a shell builtin but it is also available as a standalone /bin/pwd executable
>> type -a pwd
pwd is a shell builtin
pwd is /usr/bin/pwd
pwd is /bin/pwd
type -p Command
This option displays the name of the disk file which would be executed by the shell. It will return nothing if the command is not a disk file.
>> type -p dash
type -t Command
The option -t tells type to print a single word describing the type of the command which can be one of the following.
| Command | Description |
| alias | if command is a shell alias |
| builtin | if command is a shell builtin |
| function | if command is a shell function |
| file | if command is a disk file |
| keyword | if command is a shell reserved word |
Examples:
>> type -t pwd
>> type -t cp
>> type -t ls
>> type -t wc
>> type -t while
- Alias
In my system grep is aliased to grep –color=auto:
>> type -t grep
alias
- Builtin
echo is a shell builtin in Bash and other shells like Zsh and Ksh:
>> type -t echo
builtin
- File
cut is an executable file
>> type -t cut
file
- Function
rvm is a tool (function) for installing, managing, and working with multiple Ruby environments:
>> type -t rvm
- Keyword
for is a reserved word in Bash
>> type -t for
keyword