ENV(1) | General Commands Manual | ENV(1)

# NAME

`env` —
set and print environment

# SYNOPSIS

`env` | [`-0i`] [`-C` dir] [`-u` name] [name=value ...] [utility [argument ...]]

# DESCRIPTION

`env` executes utility after modifying the environment as specified on the command line. Each name=value option specifies an environmental variable, name, with a value of value. The ‘`-i`’ option causes `env` to completely ignore the environment it inherits.

The ‘`-C` dir’ option causes the working directory to be changed to dir.

The ‘`-u` name’ option causes removal of the name environment variable if it is in the environment. This is similar to the `unset` command in sh(1). The value for name must not include the ‘`=`’ character.

If no utility is specified, `env` prints out the names and values of the variables in the environment. Each name=value pair is separated by a new line unless `-0` is specified, in which case name/value pairs are separated by NUL. The `-0` option and utility must not be specified together.

# EXIT STATUS

`env` exits with one of the following values:

0
  utility was invoked and completed successfully. In this case the exit code is returned by the utility itself, not `env`. If no utility was specified, then `env` completed successfully and returned the exit code itself.
1
  An invalid command line option was passed to `env`.
1-125
  utility was invoked, but failed in some way; see its manual page for more information. In this case the exit code is returned by the utility itself, not `env`.
125
  utility was specified together with the `-0` option.
126
  utility was found, but could not be invoked.
127
  utility could not be found.

# COMPATIBILITY

The historic `-` option has been deprecated but is still supported in this implementation.

The `-C`, `-u` and `-0` options are non-standard extensions.

# SEE ALSO

chdir(2), execvp(3), environ(7)

# STANDARDS

The `env` utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (“POSIX.2”).

# HISTORY

The `env` command appeared in 4.4BSD.

The `-u` and `-0` options first appeared in NetBSD 10.

The `-C` option first appeared in NetBSD 10.1.

# BUGS

`env` doesn't handle commands with equal (“=”) signs in their names, for obvious reasons.

October 28, 2024 | NetBSD 10.1