type (Unix)

In Unix, type is a command that describes how its arguments would be interpreted if used as command names.

Function

Where applicable, type will display the command name's path. Possible command types are:

• shell built-in
• function
• alias
• hashed command
• keyword

The command returns a non-zero exit status if command names cannot be found.

The type command was added to the Bourne Shell in 1984 with SVR2 but is not part of the POSIX standard. With a POSIX shell, the same behavior is retrieved with

command -V name

Examples

$ type test
test is a shell builtin
$ type cp
cp is /bin/cp
$ type unknown
-bash: type: unknown: not found
$ type type
type is a shell builtin
$ type -a gzip
gzip is /opt/local/bin/gzip
gzip is /usr/bin/gzip

See also

• List of Unix utilities
• command (shell builtin)
• which (Unix)
• hash (Unix)