---
name: "getpcaps"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libcap"
version: "2.78-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/getpcaps/8"
---

# getpcaps(8)

display process capabilities

## NAME

getpcaps - display process capabilities

## SYNOPSIS

**getpcaps** \[optional args\] *pid*...

## DESCRIPTION

**getpcaps** displays the capabilities on the processes indicated by the *pid* value(s) given on the command line. A *pid* of 0 displays the capabilities of the process that is running **getpcaps** itself.

The capability Set of the process is displayed in the text represenation described here: [**cap\_text\_formats**(7)](/cap_text_formats/7.md).

Optional arguments:

- **--help** or **--usage**

  Displays usage information and exits.

- **--ugly** or **--legacy**

  Displays output in a somewhat ugly legacy format.

- **--verbose**

  Displays usage in a legacy-like format but not quite so ugly in modern default terminal fonts.

- **--iab**

  Displays IAB tuple capabilities from the process. The output format here is also described in [**cap\_text\_formats**(7)](/cap_text_formats/7.md). Double quotes encase the regular process capabilities and square brackets encase the IAB tuple. This format is also used by [**captree**(8)](/captree/8.md).

## REPORTING BUGS

Please report bugs via:

- https://bugzilla.kernel.org/buglist.cgi?component=libcap&list\_id=1090757

  ## SEE ALSO

[**capsh**(1)](/capsh/1.md), [**cap\_from\_text**(3)](/cap_from_text/3.md), [**cap\_iab**(3)](/cap_iab/3.md), **cap\_text\_format**(7), [**capabilities**(7)](/capabilities/7.md), [**captree**(8)](/captree/8.md), [**getcap**(8)](/getcap/8.md), and [**setcap**(8)](/setcap/8.md).

## AUTHOR

This manual page was originally written by Robert Bihlmeyer \<robbe@debian.org\>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).