---
name: "gmsh"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gmsh"
version: "4.13.1+ds1-6"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gmsh"
---

# gmsh(1)

3D finite element mesh generator with built-in CAD engine and post-processor

## NAME

Gmsh - 3D finite element mesh generator with built-in CAD engine and post-processor

## SYNOPSIS

**gmsh \[file(s)\] \[option(s)\]**

## DESCRIPTION

*Gmsh* is a 3D finite element mesh generator with a build-in CAD engine and post-processor. Its design goal is to provide a fast, light and user-friendly meshing tool with parametric input and flexible visualization capabilities.

*Gmsh* is built around four modules (geometry, mesh, solver and post-processing), which can be controlled with the graphical user interface, from the command line, using text files written in *Gmsh*'s own scripting language (*.geo* files), or through the C++, C, Python, Julia and Fortran application programming interface.

## GEOMETRY OPTIONS

- **-0**

  Output model, then exit.

- **-tol float**

  set geometrical tolerance.

## MESH OPTIONS

- **-1, -2, -3**

  perform 1D, 2D or 3D mesh generation, then exit.

- **-o file**

  specify output file name.

- **-format string**

  set output mesh format (auto, msh, msh1, msh2, msh4, unv, vrml, stl, mesh, bdf, med, ...).

- **-bin**

  use binary format when available.

- **-saveall**

  save all elements (discard physical group definitions)

- **-algo string**

  select mesh algorithm (meshadapt, del2d, front2d, del3d, front3d, hxt, ...).

- **-parametric**

  save nodes with their parametric coordinates.

- **-part int**

  partition the mesh after batch mesh generation.

- **-smooth int**

  set number of mesh smoothing steps.

- **-order int**

  set mesh order.

- **-clscale float**

  set global mesh element size scaling factor.

- **-clmin float**

  set minimum mesh element size.

- **-clmax float**

  set maximum mesh element size.

- **-rand float**

  set random perturbation factor.

- **-bgm file**

  load the post-processing view in file as the current background mesh.

- **-check**

  perform various consistency checks on mesh.

## POST-PROCESSING OPTIONS

- **-combine**

  combine input views into multi-time-step ones.

## DISPLAY OPTIONS

- **-n**

  hide all meshes and post-processing views on startup.

- **-fontsize int**

  specify the font size for the GUI.

- **-display string**

  specify display.

## OTHER OPTIONS

- **-**

  parse input files, then exit.

- **-new**

  create new model before merge next file.

- **-merge**

  merge next files.

- **-open**

  ppen next files.

- **-a, -g, -m, -s, -p**

  start in automatic, geometry, mesh, solver or post-processing mode.

- **-pid**

  print pid on stdout.

- **-listen string**

  always listen to incoming connection requests on the given socket (a default socket is used if not specified).

- **-v int**

  set verbosity level.

- **-nopopup**

  don't popup dialog windows in scripts.

- **-setnumber name value**

  set constant number name=value

- **-setstring name value**

  set constant string name=value

- **-string string**

  parse option string at startup.

- **-option file**

  parse option file at startup.

- **-convert files**

  Convert files into latest binary formats, then exit.

- **-version**

  show version number.

- **-info**

  show detailed version information.

- **-help**

  show help message.

## AUTHORS

Christophe Geuzaine (cgeuzaine@uliege.be) and Jean-Francois Remacle (jean-francois.remacle@uclouvain.be).

## SEE ALSO

[**getdp**(1)](/getdp/1.md),\
 Gmsh examples (*/usr/share/doc/gmsh*),\
 Gmsh homepage (*https://gmsh.info*).

The full documentation for Gmsh is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **gmsh** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info gmsh**

should give you access to the complete manual.