login

Additional Notes

login is a user and permission command used to start a user login session. It authenticates a user and initiates a login session, setting up the user environment and running profile scripts.

The login program is typically invoked by getty or sshd rather than run directly by users. Using su or sudo is the preferred way to switch users on most systems.

Syntax

login [options] [user-or-target]

Parameters

• options: Flags that change how login behaves.
• user: User account affected by the command.
• group: Group account affected by the command.
• file: File or directory whose ownership, mode, or access policy is being changed.

Common Options

• --help: Show command help when supported.
• --version: Show version information when supported.

Examples

login --help
man login

Practical Notes

Options can vary by distribution and package version. Use man login, login --help, or the package documentation for exact syntax.