---
name: "tty"
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/tty"
---

# tty(1)

return user's terminal name

## NAME

**tty** – return user's terminal name

## SYNOPSIS

**tty** \[**-s**\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **tty** utility writes the name of the terminal attached to standard input to standard output. The name that is written is the string returned by [ttyname(3)](/ttyname/3.md).

If the standard input is not a terminal, the message “not a tty” is written.

The options are as follows:

- **-s**

  Don't write the terminal name; only the exit status is affected when this option is specified. The **-s** option is deprecated in favor of the “test -t 0” command.

## EXIT STATUS

The **tty** utility exits 0 if the standard input is a terminal, 1 if the standard input is not a terminal, or \>1 if an error occurred.

## SEE ALSO

[stty(1)](/stty/1.md), [test(1)](/test/1.md), [ttyname(3)](/ttyname/3.md), [tty(4)](/tty/4.md)

## STANDARDS

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

## HISTORY

A **tty** command appeared in Version 1 AT&T UNIX.