SYSTEM(3) OpenBSD 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 NULL, system() will return non-zero. Otherwise, system() returns the termination status of the shell in the format specified 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) STANDARDS The system() function conforms to ANSI X3.159-1989 (``ANSI C'') 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. OpenBSD 3.8 June 29, 1991 1