---
name: "from"
section: "1"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/from"
---

# from(1)

print names of those who have sent mail

## NAME

**from** – print names of those who have sent mail

## SYNOPSIS

**from** \[**-f** *file*\] \[**-s** *sender*\] \[*user*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**from** prints out the mail header lines from the invoker's mailbox.

The options are as follows:

- **-f** *file*

  The supplied file is examined instead of the invoker's mailbox. If the **-f** option is used, the *user* argument should not be used.

- **-s** *sender*

  Only mail from addresses containing the supplied string are printed.

If *user* is given, the *user*'s mailbox is examined instead of the invoker's own mailbox. (Privileges are required.)

## ENVIRONMENT

**from** utilizes the LOGNAME, MAIL, and USER environment variables.

If the MAIL environment variable is set, its value is used as the path to the user's mail spool.

## FILES

- */var/mail/\**

  ## SEE ALSO

[biff(1)](/biff/1.md), [mail(1)](/mail/1.md)

## HISTORY

The **from** command appeared in 2BSD.

## AUTHORS

Bill Joy, 1979.