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TEST(1)

NAME

test − condition command

USAGE

test expr

DESCRIPTION

Test evaluates the expression expr. If the value of expr is true, then test returns a zero exit status; otherwise, it returns a non-zero exit status.  It also returns a non-zero exit if there are no arguments. 

Use the following primitives to construct expr.

−r file True if the file exists and is readable. 

−w file True if the file exists and is writable. 

−f file True if the file exists and is not a directory. 

−d file True if the file exists and is a directory. 

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

−t [ fildes ]
True if the open file whose file descriptor number is fildes (1 by default) is associated with a terminal device. 

−z s1 True if the length of string s1 is zero. 

−n s1 True if the length of the string s1 is nonzero. 

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

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

s1 True if s1 is not the null string. 

n1 −eq n2
True if the integers n1 and n2 are algebraically equal.  You may use any of the comparisons −ne, −gt, −ge, −lt, or −le in place of −eq. 

Combine these primaries with the following operators:

!  Unary negation operator. 

−a Binary and operator. 

−o Binary or operator. 

( expr )
Parentheses for grouping.

Note that −a has higher precedence than −o.  All the operators and flags are separate arguments to test.  Parentheses are meaningful to the Shell; thus, they must be escaped. 

RELATED INFORMATION

find (1), sh (1). 

Typewritten Software • bear@typewritten.org • Edmonds, WA 98026