command

Additional Notes

command is a shell builtin that runs a command while bypassing shell functions. It can also check how a command would be resolved.

Use it in scripts and wrapper functions when you need the real command lookup instead of a function with the same name.

Syntax

command [options] name [arguments...]

Parameters

• name: Command name to run or inspect.
• arguments: Arguments passed to the command.
• options: Lookup and verbosity flags.

Common Options

• -v NAME: Print how NAME would be resolved.
• -V NAME: Print a more verbose description.
• -p: Use a default PATH guaranteed to find standard utilities on some shells.

Examples

command -v python3

Check whether python3 is available.

command -V cd

Show whether cd is a builtin, function, alias, or executable.

ls() { command ls --color=auto "$@"; }

Define a wrapper while still calling the real ls.

Practical Notes

• command bypasses shell functions but not necessarily shell builtins.
• Use builtin when you specifically need a shell builtin.
• command -v is often better than which in portable shell scripts.