---
name: "lua5.4"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "lua54"
version: "5.4.9-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/lua5.4"
---

# lua5.4(1)

Lua interpreter

## NAME

lua - Lua interpreter

## SYNOPSIS

**lua** \[ *options* \] \[ *script* \[ *args* \] \]

## DESCRIPTION

**lua** is the standalone Lua interpreter. It loads and executes Lua programs, either in textual source form or in precompiled binary form. (Precompiled binaries are output by **luac**, the Lua compiler.) **lua** can be used as a batch interpreter and also interactively.

After handling the *options*, the Lua program in file *script* is loaded and executed. The *args* are available to *script* as strings in a global table named **arg** and also as arguments to its main function. When called without arguments, **lua** behaves as **lua -v -i** if the standard input is a terminal, and as **lua -** otherwise.

In interactive mode, **lua** prompts the user, reads lines from the standard input, and executes them as they are read. If the line contains an expression, then the line is evaluated and the result is printed. If a line does not contain a complete statement, then a secondary prompt is displayed and lines are read until a complete statement is formed or a syntax error is found.

Before handling command line options and scripts, **lua** checks the contents of the environment variables **LUA\_INIT\_5\_4** and **LUA\_INIT**, in that order. If the contents are of the form '@*filename*', then *filename* is executed. Otherwise, the contents are assumed to be a Lua statement and is executed. When **LUA\_INIT\_5\_4** is defined, **LUA\_INIT** is ignored.

## OPTIONS

- **-e** *stat*

  execute statement *stat*.

- **-i**

  enter interactive mode after executing *script*.

- **-l** *mod*

  require library *mod* into global *mod*.

- **-l** *g=mod*

  require library *mod* into global *g*.

- **-v**

  show version information.

- **-E**

  ignore environment variables.

- **-W**

  turn warnings on.

- **--**

  stop handling options.

- **-**

  stop handling options and execute the standard input as a file.

## ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

The following environment variables affect the execution of **lua**. When defined, the version-specific variants take priority and the version-neutral variants are ignored.

- **LUA\_INIT, LUA\_INIT\_5\_4**

  Code to be executed before command line options and scripts.

- **LUA\_PATH, LUA\_PATH\_5\_4**

  Initial value of package.path, the path used by require to search for Lua loaders.

- **LUA\_CPATH, LUA\_CPATH\_5\_4**

  Initial value of package.cpath, the path used by require to search for C loaders.

## EXIT STATUS

If a script calls os.exit, then **lua** exits with the given exit status. Otherwise, **lua** exits with EXIT\_SUCCESS (0 on POSIX systems) if there were no errors and with EXIT\_FAILURE (1 on POSIX systems) if there were errors. Errors raised in interactive mode do not cause exits.

## DIAGNOSTICS

Error messages should be self explanatory.

## SEE ALSO

[**luac**(1)](/luac/1.md)\
 The documentation at lua.org, especially section 7 of the reference manual.

## AUTHORS

R. Ierusalimschy, L. H. de Figueiredo, W. Celes