---
name: "mkfifo"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkfifo"
---

# mkfifo(1)

make FIFOs (named pipes)

## NAME

mkfifo - make FIFOs (named pipes)

## SYNOPSIS

**mkfifo** \[*OPTION*\]... *NAME*...

## DESCRIPTION

Create named pipes (FIFOs) with the given NAMEs.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

- **-m, --mode=MODE**

  set file permission bits to MODE, not a=rw - umask

- **-Z**

  set the SELinux security context to default type

- **--context\[=CTX\]**

  like **-Z**, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## AUTHOR

Written by David MacKenzie.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**mkfifo**(3)](/mkfifo/3.md)

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/mkfifo\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) mkfifo invocation'