This is a list of POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) commands as specified by IEEE Std 1003.1-2024, which is part of the Single UNIX Specification (SUS). These commands can be found on Unix operating systems and most Unix-like operating systems.
This is not a comprehensive list of all utilities that existed in the various historic Unix and Unix-like systems, as it excludes utilities that were not mandated by the aforementioned standard.
List
edit| Name | Category | Status (Option code) | Description | First appeared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
admin
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Create and administer SCCS files | PWB UNIX |
alias
|
Misc | Mandatory | Define or display aliases | |
ar
|
Misc | Mandatory | Create and maintain library archives | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
asa
|
Text processing | Optional (FR) | Interpret carriage-control characters | System V |
at
|
Process management | Mandatory | Execute commands at a later time | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
awk
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Pattern scanning and processing language | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
basename
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Return non-directory portion of a pathname; see also dirname | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
batch
|
Process management | Mandatory | Schedule commands to be executed in a batch queue | |
bc
|
Misc | Mandatory | Arbitrary-precision arithmetic language | Version 6 AT&T UNIX |
bg
|
Process management | Optional (UP) | Run jobs in the background | |
cc/c17
|
C programming | Optional (CD) | Compile standard C programs | IEEE Std 1003.1-2024 |
cal
|
Misc | Optional (XSI) | Print a calendar | Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
cat
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Concatenate and print files | PDP-7 UNIX |
cd
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Change the working directory | Version 6 AT&T UNIX |
cflow
|
C programming | Optional (XSI) | Generate a C-language call graph | System V |
chgrp
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Change the file group ownership | PWB UNIX |
chmod
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Change the file modes/attributes/permissions | PDP-7 UNIX |
chown
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Change the file ownership | PDP-7 UNIX |
cksum
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Write file checksums and sizes | 4.4BSD |
cmp
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Compare two files; see also diff | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
comm
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Select or reject lines common to two files | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
command
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Execute a simple command | |
compress
|
Filesystem | Optional (XSI) | Compress data | 4.3BSD |
cp
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Copy files | PDP-7 UNIX |
crontab
|
Misc | Mandatory | Schedule periodic background work | System V |
csplit
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Split files based on context | PWB UNIX |
ctags
|
C programming | Optional (SD) | Create a tags file | 3BSD |
cut
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Cut out selected fields of each line of a file | System III |
cxref
|
C programming | Optional (XSI) | Generate a C-language program cross-reference table | System V |
date
|
Misc | Mandatory | Display the date and time | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
dd
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Convert and copy a file | Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
delta
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Make a delta (change) to an SCCS file | PWB UNIX |
df
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Report free disk space | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
diff
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Compare two files; see also cmp | Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
dirname
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Return the directory portion of a pathname; see also basename | System III |
du
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Estimate file space usage | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
echo
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Write arguments to standard output | Version 2 AT&T UNIX |
ed
|
Text processing | Mandatory | The standard text editor | PDP-7 UNIX |
env
|
Misc | Mandatory | Set the environment for command invocation | System III |
ex
|
Text processing | Optional (UP) | Text editor | 1BSD |
expand
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Convert tabs to spaces | 3BSD |
expr
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Evaluate arguments as an expression | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
false
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Return false value | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
fc
|
Misc | Optional (UP) | Process the command history list | |
fg
|
Process management | Optional (UP) | Run jobs in the foreground | |
file
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Determine file type | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
find
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Find files | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
fold
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Filter for folding lines | 1BSD |
fuser
|
Process management | Optional (XSI) | List process IDs of all processes that have one or more files open | System V |
gencat
|
Misc | Mandatory | Generate a formatted message catalog | |
get
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Get a version of an SCCS file | PWB UNIX |
getconf
|
Misc | Mandatory | Get configuration values | |
getopts
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Parse utility options | |
gettext
|
Misc | Mandatory | Retrieve text string from messages object | |
grep
|
Misc | Mandatory | Search text for a pattern | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
hash
|
Misc | Mandatory | Hash database access method | |
head
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Copy the first part of files | PWB UNIX[citation needed] |
iconv
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Codeset conversion | HP-UX |
id
|
Misc | Mandatory | Return user identity | System V |
ipcrm
|
Misc | Optional (XSI) | Remove a message queue, semaphore set, or shared memory segment identifier | System V |
ipcs
|
Misc | Optional (XSI) | Report interprocess communication facilities status | System V |
jobs
|
Process management | Optional (UP) | Display status of jobs in the current session | |
join
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Merges two sorted text files based on the presence of a common field | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
kill
|
Process management | Mandatory | Terminate or signal processes | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
lex
|
C programming | Optional (CD) | Generate programs for lexical tasks | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
link
|
Filesystem | Optional (XSI) | Create a hard link to a file | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
ln
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Link files | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
locale
|
Misc | Mandatory | Get locale-specific information | |
localedef
|
Misc | Mandatory | Define locale environment | |
logger
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Log messages | 4.3BSD |
logname
|
Misc | Mandatory | Return the user's login name | 4.4BSD |
lp
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Send files to a printer | System V |
ls
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | List directory contents | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
m4
|
Misc | Mandatory | Macro processor | PWB UNIX |
mailx
|
Misc | Mandatory | Process messages | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
make
|
Programming | Optional (SD) | Maintain, update, and regenerate groups of programs | PWB UNIX |
man
|
Misc | Mandatory | Display system documentation | Version 2 AT&T UNIX |
mesg
|
Misc | Mandatory | Permit or deny messages | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
mkdir
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Make directories | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
mkfifo
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Make FIFO special files | 4.4BSD[dubious – discuss] |
more
|
Text processing | Optional (UP) | Display files on a page-by-page basis | 3BSD |
msgfmt
|
Misc | Mandatory | Create messages objects from messages object files | |
mv
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Move or rename files | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
newgrp
|
Misc | Mandatory | Change to a new group | Version 6 AT&T UNIX |
ngettext
|
Misc | Mandatory | Retrieve text string from messages object with plural form | |
nice
|
Process management | Mandatory | Invoke a utility with an altered nice value | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
nl
|
Text processing | Optional (XSI) | Line numbering filter | System III |
nm
|
C programming | Optional (SD, XSI) |
Write the name list of an object file | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
nohup
|
Process management | Mandatory | Invoke a utility immune to hangups | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
od
|
Misc | Mandatory | Dump files in various formats | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
paste
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Merge corresponding or subsequent lines of files | Version 32V AT&T UNIX |
patch
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Apply changes to files | 4.3BSD |
pathchk
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Check pathnames | |
pax
|
Misc | Mandatory | Portable archive interchange | 4.4BSD[citation needed] |
pr
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Paginate or columnate files for printing | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
printf
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Write formatted output | 4.3BSD-Reno |
prs
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Print an SCCS file | PWB UNIX |
ps
|
Process management | Mandatory | Report process status | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
pwd
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Print working directory | Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
read
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Read a line from standard input | |
readlink
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Print destination of a symbolic link | |
realpath
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Resolve a symbolic link | |
renice
|
Process management | Mandatory | Set nice values of running processes | 4BSD |
rm
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Remove directory entries | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
rmdel
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Remove a delta from an SCCS file | PWB UNIX |
rmdir
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Remove directories, if they are empty. | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
sact
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Print current SCCS file-editing activity | System III |
sccs
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Front end for the SCCS subsystem | 4.3BSD |
sed
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Stream editor | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
sh
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Shell, the standard command language interpreter | Version 7 AT&T UNIX (in earlier versions, sh was either the Thompson shell or the PWB shell) |
sleep
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Suspend execution for an interval | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
sort
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Sort, merge, or sequence check text files | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
split
|
Misc | Mandatory | Split files into pieces | Version 3 AT&T UNIX |
strings
|
C programming | Mandatory | Find printable strings in files | 2BSD |
strip
|
C programming | Optional (SD) | Remove unnecessary information from executable files | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
stty
|
Misc | Mandatory | Set the options for a terminal | Version 2 AT&T UNIX |
tabs
|
Misc | Mandatory | Set terminal tabs | PWB UNIX |
tail
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Copy the last part of a file | PWB UNIX[citation needed] |
talk
|
Misc | Optional (UP) | Talk to another user | 4.2BSD |
tee
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Duplicate the standard output | Version 5 AT&T UNIX |
test
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Evaluate expression | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
time
|
Process management | Mandatory | Retrieve and format time and date | Version 3 AT&T UNIX |
timeout
|
Process management | Mandatory | Run command with a time limit | Version 3 AT&T UNIX |
touch
|
Filesystem | Mandatory | Change file access and modification times | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
tput
|
Misc | Mandatory | Change terminal characteristics | System V |
tr
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Translate characters | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
true
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Return true value | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
tsort
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Topological sort | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
tty
|
Misc | Mandatory | Return user's terminal name | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
type
|
Misc | Optional (XSI) | Displays how a name would be interpreted if used as a command | |
ulimit
|
Misc | Optional (XSI) | Set or report file size limit | |
umask
|
Misc | Mandatory | Get or set the file mode creation mask | System III |
unalias
|
Misc | Mandatory | Remove alias definitions | |
uname
|
Misc | Mandatory | Return system name | PWB UNIX |
uncompress
|
Misc | Optional (XSI) | Expand compressed data | 4.3BSD |
unexpand
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Convert spaces to tabs | 3BSD |
unget
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Undo a previous get of an SCCS file | System III |
uniq
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Report or filter out repeated lines in a file | Version 3 AT&T UNIX |
unlink
|
Filesystem | Optional (XSI) | Call the unlink function | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
uucp
|
Network | Optional (UU) | System-to-system copy | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
uudecode
|
Network | Mandatory | Decode a binary file | 4BSD |
uuencode
|
Network | Mandatory | Encode a binary file | 4BSD |
uustat
|
Network | Optional (UU) | uucp status inquiry and job control | System III |
uux
|
Process management | Optional (UU) | Remote command execution | Version 7 AT&T UNIX |
val
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Validate SCCS files | System III |
vi
|
Text processing | Optional (UP) | Screen-oriented (visual) display editor | 1BSD |
wait
|
Process management | Mandatory | Await process completion | Version 4 AT&T UNIX |
wc
|
Text processing | Mandatory | Line, word and byte or character count | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
what
|
SCCS | Optional (XSI) | Identify SCCS files | PWB UNIX |
who
|
System administration | Optional (XSI) | Display who is on the system | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
write
|
Misc | Mandatory | Write to another user's terminal | Version 1 AT&T UNIX |
xargs
|
Shell programming | Mandatory | Construct argument lists and invoke utility | PWB UNIX |
xgettext
|
C programming | Optional (CD) | Extract gettext calls from C source code strings | IEEE Std 1003.1-2024 |
yacc
|
C programming | Optional (CD) | Yet another compiler compiler | PWB UNIX |
zcat
|
Text processing | Optional (XSI) | Expand and concatenate data | 4.3BSD |
See also
editExternal links
edit
The Wikibook Guide to UNIX has a page on the topic of: Commands
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Unix reference cards.
- IEEE Std 1003.1,2004 specifications
- IEEE Std 1003.1,2008 specifications
- IEEE Std 1003.1,2024 specifications
- Rosetta Stone For *Nix – configurable list of equivalent programs for *nix systems.
- The Unix Acronym List: Unix Commands – explains the names of many Unix commands.