TEST(1)                    OpenBSD 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 no
     expression is given, test also returns 1 (false).

     All operators and flags are separate arguments to the test utility.  Sym-
     bolic links are followed for all primaries except -h and -L.

     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 group matches the effective group ID
             of this process.

     -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.

     -L file
             True if file exists and is a symbolic link.  This operator is for
             compatibility purposes.  Do not rely on its existence; use -h in-
             stead.

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

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

     -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 is a socket.

     -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.

     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.

     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.

     s1      True if s1 is not the null string.

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

     ! 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.

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
     D11.2/4.62.4 are evaluated consistently according to the rules specified
     in the standards document.  All other cases are subject to the ambiguity
     in the command semantics.

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.

SEE ALSO
     ksh(1)

STANDARDS
     The test utility is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (``POSIX'')
     specification.

     The primaries -G, -k, -O, -nt, -ot, -ef, <, and > are extensions to that
     specification.

     test also exists as a built-in to ksh(1), though with a different syntax.

OpenBSD 4.7                    February 8, 2009                              3
