system(3)
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SYSTEM(3) NetBSD Library Functions Manual SYSTEM(3)
NAME
system -- pass a command to the shell
LIBRARY
Standard C Library (libc, -lc)
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 com-
mand interpreter is available, or zero if none is available. Otherwise,
system() returns the termination status of the shell in the format speci-
fied by waitpid(2).
RETURN VALUES
If a child process cannot be created, or the termination status of the
shell cannot be obtained, system() returns -1 and sets errno to indicate
the error. If execution of the shell fails, system() returns the termi-
nation status for a program that terminates with a call of exit(127).
SEE ALSO
sh(1), execve(2), waitpid(2), popen(3), shquote(3)
STANDARDS
The system() function conforms to ANSI X3.159-1989 (``ANSI C89'') and
IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (``POSIX.2'').
CAVEATS
Never supply the system() function with a command containing any part of
an unsanitized user-supplied string. Shell meta-characters present will
be honored by the sh(1) command interpreter.
NetBSD 9.3 August 2, 2007 NetBSD 9.3
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