---
name: "access"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "tetex-bin"
version: "2.0.2-30sarge5"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/access"
---

# access(1)

determine whether a file can be accessed

## NAME

access - determine whether a file can be accessed

## SYNOPSIS

**access** *-mode* *file*

## DESCRIPTION

Exit successfully if *file* can be accessed with the specified mode. *mode* is one or more letters of *rwx*, where *r* is for readable, *w* is for writable, and *x* is for executable.

The difference between **access** and **test** is that the latter looks at the permission bits, while the former checks using the [**access**(2)](/access/2.md) system call.  This makes a difference when file systems have been mounted read-only.

## OPTIONS

**access** accepts the following additional options:

- **--help**

  Print help message and exit.

- **--version**

  Print version information and exit.

## SEE ALSO

[**access**(2)](/access/2.md)