---
name: "["
section: "1"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/["
---

# \[(1)

condition evaluation utility

## 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 there is no expression, **test** also returns 1 (false).

All operators and flags are separate arguments to the **test** utility.

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 set group ID flag is set.

- **-h** *file*

  True if *file* exists and is a symbolic link. This operator is retained for compatibility with previous versions of this program. Do not rely on its existence; use **-L** instead.

- **-k** *file*

  True if *file* exists and its sticky bit is set.

- **-n** *string*

  True if the length of *string* is nonzero.

- **-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 has a size greater than zero.

- **-t** *file\_descriptor*

  True if the file whose file descriptor number is *file\_descriptor* 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.

- **-L** *file*

  True if *file* exists and is a symbolic link.

- **-O** *file*

  True if *file* exists and its owner matches the effective user id of this process.

- **-G** *file*

  True if *file* exists and its group matches the effective group id of this process.

- **-S** *file*

  True if *file* exists and is a socket.

- *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.

- *string*

  True if *string* is not the null string.

- *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 binary value of their characters.

- *s1* **\>** *s2*

  True if string *s1* comes after *s2* based on the binary value of their characters.

- *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*.

If *file* is a symbolic link, **test** will fully dereference it and then evaluate the expression against the file referenced, except for the **-h** and **-L** primaries.

These primaries can be combined with the following operators:

- **!** *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.

The **-a** operator has higher precedence than the **-o** operator.

Some shells may provide a builtin **test** command which is similar or identical to this utility. Consult the [builtin(1)](/builtin/1.md) manual page.

## GRAMMAR AMBIGUITY

The **test** grammar is inherently ambiguous. In order to assure a degree of consistency, the cases described in the IEEE Std 1003.2 (“POSIX.2”), section D11.2/4.62.4, standard are evaluated consistently according to the rules specified in the standards document. All other cases are subject to the ambiguity in the command semantics.

In particular, only expressions containing **-a**, **-o**, **(** or **)** can be ambiguous.

## EXIT STATUS

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.

## EXAMPLES

Implement test FILE1 -nt FILE2 using only POSIX functionality:

```
test -n "$(find -L -- FILE1 -prune -newer FILE2 2>/dev/null)"
```

This can be modified using non-standard [find(1)](/find/1.md) primaries like **-newerca** to compare other timestamps.

## COMPATIBILITY

For compatibility with some other implementations, the **=** primary can be substituted with **==** with the same meaning.

## SEE ALSO

[builtin(1)](/builtin/1.md), [expr(1)](/expr/1.md), [find(1)](/find/1.md), [sh(1)](/sh/1.md), [stat(1)](/stat/1.md), [symlink(7)](/symlink/7.md)

## STANDARDS

The **test** utility implements a superset of the IEEE Std 1003.2 (“POSIX.2”) specification. The primaries **\<**, **==**, **\>**, **-ef**, **-nt**, **-ot**, **-G**, and **-O** are extensions.

## HISTORY

A **test** utility appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.

## BUGS

Both sides are always evaluated in **-a** and **-o**. For instance, the writable status of *file* will be tested by the following command even though the former expression indicated false, which results in a gratuitous access to the file system:

```
[ -z abc -a -w file ]
```

To avoid this, write

```
[ -z abc ] && [ -w file ]
```