type command in Linux with Examples

Last Updated : 06 May, 2019

The type command is used to describe how its argument would be translated if used as commands. It is also used to find out whether it is built-in or external binary file.

Syntax:

type [Options] command names

Example:

Options:

-a : This option is used to find out whether it is an alias, keyword or a function and it also displays the path of an executable, if available.
Example:
```
type -a pwd
```
-t : This option will display a single word as an output.
- alias – if command is a shell alias
- keyword – if command is a shell reserved word
- builtin – if command is a shell builtin
- function – if command is a shell function
- file – if command is a disk file
Example:
```
type -t pwd
type -t cp
type -t ls
type -t while
```
-p : This option displays the name of the disk file which would be executed by the shell. It will return nothing if the command is not a disk file.
Example:
```
type -p dash
```