TEST(1)                      BSD Reference Manual                      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).

     The [ command is identical to the test command.  In this usage, an addi-
     tional trailing argument, consisting of a single ], is required.

     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.

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

     -p file       True if file is a named pipe (FIFO).

     -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 (default 1) 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.

     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.

     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 inte-
                   ger 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 the IEEE Std1003.2 (``POSIX''), sec-
     tion D11.2/4.62.4, standard are evaluated consistently according to the
     rules specified in the standards document.  All other cases are subject
     to the ambiguity in the command semantics.

RETURN VALUES
     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 function is expected to be IEEE Std1003.2 (``POSIX'') compati-
     ble.

BSDI BSD/OS                      May 31, 1993                                2