May 31, 1993 TEST 1

### NAME

test, [ - condition evaluation utility

### SYNOPSIS

test expression [ expression]

### DESCRIPTION

The test utility evaluates the expression and, if it evaluates to true, returns a zero (true) exit status; otherwise it returns 1 (false). If there is no expression, test also returns 1 (false).

All operators and flags are separate arguments to the test utility.

The following primaries are used to construct expression:

-b file
  True if file exists and is a block special file.

-c file
  True if file exists and is a character special file.

-d file
  True if file exists and is a directory.

-e file
  True if file exists (regardless of type).

-f file
  True if file exists and is a regular file.

-g file
  True if file exists and its set group ID flag is set.

-h file
  True if file exists and is a symbolic link.

-k file
  True if file exists and its sticky bit is set.

-n string
  True if the length of string is nonzero.

-p file
  True if file exists and is a named pipe FIFO(.blm Pp.)

-r file
  True if file exists and is readable.

-s file
  True if file exists and has a size greater than zero.

-t file_descriptor
  True if the file whose file descriptor number is file_descriptor is open and is associated with a terminal.

-u file
  True if file exists and its set user ID flag is set.

-w file
  True if file exists and is writable. True indicates only that the write flag is on. The file is not writable on a read-only file system even if this test indicates true.

-x file
  True if file exists and is executable. True indicates only that the execute flag is on. If file is a directory, true indicates that file can be searched.

-z string
  True if the length of string is zero.

-L file
  True if file exists and is a symbolic link. This operator is retained for compatibility with previous versions of this program. Do not rely on its existence; use -h instead.

-O file
  True if file exists and its owner matches the effective user id of this process.

-G file
  True if file exists and its group matches the effective group id of this process.

-S file
  True if file exists and is a socket.

file1 -nt file2
  True if file1 exists and is newer than file2.

file1 -ot file2
  True if file1 exists and is older than file2.

file1 -ef file2
  True if file1 and file2 exist and refer to the same file.

string
  True if string is not the null string.

s1 = s2
  True if the strings s1 and s2 are identical.

s1 != s2
  True if the strings s1 and s2 are not identical.

s1 < s2
  True if string s1 comes before s2 based on the ASCII value of their characters.

s1 > s2
  True if string s1 comes after s2 based on the ASCII value of their characters.

n1 -eq n2
  True if the integers n1 and n2 are algebraically equal.

n1 -ne n2
  True if the integers n1 and n2 are not algebraically equal.

n1 -gt n2
  True if the integer n1 is algebraically greater than the integer n2.

n1 -ge n2
  True if the integer n1 is algebraically greater than or equal to the integer n2.

n1 -lt n2
  True if the integer n1 is algebraically less than the integer n2.

n1 -le n2
  True if the integer n1 is algebraically less than or equal to the integer n2.

These primaries can be combined with the following operators:

! expression
  True if expression is false.

expression1 -a expression2
  True if both expression1 and expression2 are true.

expression1 -o expression2
  True if either expression1 or expression2 are true.

(expression)
  True if expression is true.

The -a operator has higher precedence than the -o operator.

### GRAMMAR AMBIGUITY

The test grammar is inherently ambiguous. In order to assure a degree of consistency, the cases described in IEEE Std 1003.2 (``POSIX.2'') section 4.62.4, are evaluated consistently according to the rules specified in the standards document. All other cases are subject to the ambiguity in the command semantics.

### EXIT STATUS

The test utility exits with one of the following values:

0
  expression evaluated to true.

1
  expression evaluated to false or expression was missing.

>1
  An error occurred.

### STANDARDS

The test utility implements a superset of the IEEE Std 1003.2 (``POSIX.2'') specification.