---
name: "test"
section: "1plan9"
platform: "linux"
package: "9base"
version: "1:6-14"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/test/1plan9"
---

# test(1plan9)

set status according to condition

## NAME

test - set status according to condition

## SYNOPSIS

**test** *expr*

## DESCRIPTION

*Test* evaluates the expression *expr*. If the value is true the exit status is null; otherwise the exit status is non-null. If there are no arguments the exit status is non-null.

The following primitives are used to construct *expr*.

- **-r** *file*

  True if the file exists (is accessible) and is readable.

- **-w** *file*

  True if the file exists and is writable.

- **-x** *file*

  True if the file exists and has execute permission.

- **-e** *file*

  True if the file exists.

- **-f** *file*

  True if the file exists and is a plain file.

- **-d** *file*

  True if the file exists and is a directory.

- **-s** *file*

  True if the file exists and has a size greater than zero.

- **-t** *fildes*

  True if the open file whose file descriptor number is *fildes* (1 by default) is the same file as **/dev/cons**.

- **-A** *file*

  True if the file exists and is append-only.

- **-L** *file*

  True if the file exists and is exclusive-use.

- **-T***file*

  True if the file exists and is temporary.

- *s1* **=** *s2*

  True if the strings *s1* and *s2* are identical.

- *s1* **!=** *s2*

  True if the strings *s1* and *s2* are not identical.

- s1

  True if *s1* is not the null string. (Deprecated.)

- **-n** *s1*

  True if the length of string *s1* is non-zero.

- **-z** *s1*

  True if the length of string *s1* is zero.

- *n1* **-eq** *n2*

  True if the integers *n1* and *n2* are arithmetically equal. Any of the comparisons **-ne**, **-gt**, **-ge**, **-lt**, or **-le** may be used in place of **-eq**. The (nonstandard) construct **-l** *string,* meaning the length of *string*, may be used in place of an integer.

- *a* **-nt** *b*

  True if file *a* is newer than (modified after) file *b*.

- *a* **-ot** *b*

  True if file *a* is older than (modified before) file *b*.

- *f* **-older** *t*

  True if file *f* is older than (modified before) time *t*. If *t* is a integer followed by the letters **y**(years), **M**(months), **d**(days), **h**(hours), **m**(minutes), or **s**(seconds), it represents current time minus the specified time. If there is no letter, it represents seconds since epoch. You can also concatenate mixed units.  For example, **3d12h** means three days and twelve hours ago.

These primaries may be combined with the following operators:

- **!**

  unary negation operator

- **-o**

  binary *or* operator

- **-a**

  binary *and* operator; higher precedence than **-o**

- **(** *expr* **)**

  parentheses for grouping.

The primitives **-b**, **-u**, **-g**, and **-s** return false; they are recognized for compatibility with POSIX.

Notice that all the operators and flags are separate arguments to *test*. Notice also that parentheses and equal signs are meaningful to *rc* and must be enclosed in quotes.

## EXAMPLES

*Test* is a dubious way to check for specific character strings: it uses a process to do what an [*rc*(1)](/rc/1.md) match or switch statement can do. The first example is not only inefficient but wrong, because *test* understands the purported string **"-c"** as an option.

-

  ```
  if (test $1 '=' "-c") echo OK	# wrong!
  ```

A better way is

-

  ```
  if (~ $1 -c) echo OK
  ```

Test whether  is in the current directory.

-

  **test -f abc -o -d abc**

## SOURCE

**/src/cmd/test.c**

## SEE ALSO

[*rc*(1)](/rc/1.md)