SYSTEM(3) BSD Programmer's Manual SYSTEM(3)NAME
system - pass a command to the shell
SYNOPSIS
#include <stdlib.h>
int
system(const char *string);
DESCRIPTION
The system() function hands the argument string to the command inter-
preter sh(1). The calling process waits for the shell to finish execut-
ing the command, ignoring SIGINT and SIGQUIT, and blocking SIGCHLD.
If string is a NULL pointer, system() will return non-zero if the command
interpreter sh(1) is available, and zero if it is not.
The system() function returns the exit status of the shell, -1 if the
wait(2) for the shell failed, or 127 if system() was unable to exec the
shell. The exit status of the shell may not be a simple integer, and
should be interpreted using the macros defined in the wait(2) manual
page.
SEE ALSOsh(1), execve(2), wait(2), popen(3)STANDARDS
The system() function conforms to ANSI C X3.159-1989 (``ANSI C '').
BSDI BSD/OS June 4, 1993 1