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)