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

# logger(1)

make entries in the system log

## NAME

**logger** – make entries in the system log

## SYNOPSIS

**logger** \[**-cis**\] \[**-f** *file*\] \[**-p** *pri*\] \[**-t** *tag*\] \[*message* *...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **logger** utility provides a shell command interface to the [syslog(3)](/syslog/3.md) system log module.

The options are as follows:

- **-c**

  If unable to pass the message to [syslogd(8)](/syslogd/8.md), attempt to write the message to the console.

- **-f** *file*

  Read from the specified *file*.

- **-i**

  Log the process ID of the logger process with each line.

- **-p** *pri*

  Enter the message with the specified priority. The priority may be specified numerically or as a “facility.level” pair. For example, “-p local3.info” logs the message(s) as *info*rmational level in the *local3* facility. The default is “user.notice”.

- **-s**

  Log the message to standard error, as well as the system log.

- **-t** *tag*

  Mark every line in the log with the specified *tag*.

- *message*

  Write the message to log; if not specified, and the **-f** flag is not provided, standard input is logged.

## EXIT STATUS

The **logger** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## EXAMPLES

```
$ logger System rebooted
$ logger -p local0.notice -t HOSTIDM -f /dev/idmc
```

## SEE ALSO

[syslog(3)](/syslog/3.md), [syslogd(8)](/syslogd/8.md)

## STANDARDS

The **logger** utility is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification.

The flags \[**-cfipst**\] are extensions to that specification.