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Commands:  csh(1)

ksh(1)

Bourne shell sh(1b)

POSIX shell sh(1p)

Standards:  standards(5)

true(1)  —  Commands

NAME

true, false − Returns a standard exit value

SYNOPSIS

true

false

STANDARDS

Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry standards as follows:

false:  XPG4, XPG4−UNIX

true:  XPG4, XPG4−UNIX

Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about industry standards and associated tags. 

DESCRIPTION

The true command returns a 0 (zero) exit value.  The false command returns a nonzero exit value.  These commands are usually used in input to shell commands. 

EXAMPLES

To construct a loop in a shell procedure, enter:

while true
do
date
sleep 60
done

This procedure displays the date and time once a minute.  To stop it, press the Interrupt key sequence. 

NOTES

The special built-in utility : (colon) is sometimes more efficient than the true command. 

EXIT VALUES

[Digital]  The nonzero value returned by the false command may vary from system to system. 

RELATED INFORMATION

Commands:  csh(1), ksh(1), Bourne shell sh(1b), POSIX shell sh(1p)

Standards:  standards(5)

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