NAME

mesg — display (do not display) messages from other users

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

The mesg utility is invoked by a user to control write access others have to the terminal device associated with the standard error output. Write access is allowed by default, and programs such as talk(1) and write(1) may display messages on the terminal.

The options are as follows:

n

Disallows messages.

y

Permits messages to be displayed.

If no arguments are given, mesg displays the present message status to the standard error output.

FILES

/dev/[pt]ty[pq]?

 

EXIT STATUS

The mesg utility exits with one of the following values:

SEE ALSO

biff(1), talk(1), write(1)

STANDARDS

The mesg utility is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification.

HISTORY

A mesg command appeared in Version 2 AT&T UNIX.