Tty (Unix)

For other uses, see TTY (disambiguation).

In computing, tty is a command in Unix and Unix-like operating systems to print the file name of the terminal connected to standard input.^[1][2]

tty

tty command on a Void Linux machine
Initial release	November 3, 1971; 53 years ago (1971-11-03)
Operating system	Unix and Unix-like
Platform	Cross-platform
Type	Command

tty stands for TeleTYpewriter.^[3]

Usage

The tty command is commonly used to check if the output medium is a terminal. The command prints the file name of the terminal connected to standard input. If no file is detected (in case, it's being run as part of a script or the command is being piped) "not a tty" is printed to stdout and the command exits with an exit status of 1. The command also can be run in silent mode (tty -s) where no output is produced, and the command exits with an appropriate exit status.^[4]

See also

• Pseudoterminal
• Teleprinter