Wikipedia

write (Unix)

write
Original author(s)Dennis Ritchie,
Ken Thompson
Developer(s)AT&T Bell Laboratories
Initial releaseNovember 3, 1971
Operating systemUnix and Unix-like
PlatformCross-platform
TypeCommand

In Unix and Unix-like operating systems, write is a utility used to send messages to another user by writing a message directly to another user's TTY.[1]

History

The write command was included in the First Edition of the Research Unix operating system.[2]

Sample usage

The syntax for the write command is:

$ write user [tty] message 

The write session is terminated by sending EOF, which can be done by pressing Ctrl+D. The tty argument is only necessary when a user is logged into more than one terminal.[3]

A conversation initiated between two users on the same machine:

$ write root pts/7 test 

Will show up to the user on that console as:

Message from root@wiki on pts/8 at 11:19 ... test 

See also

References

  1. ^ write(1) – Version 7 Unix Programmer's Manual
  2. ^ Unix Programmer's Manual (PDF) (1st ed.). Bell Labs. 3 November 1971. p. write(1). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  3. ^ write(1) – util-linux man page
This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia® - the free encyclopedia created and edited by its online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of Wikipedia® encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information, please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.

Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.