Linux in a Nutshell, 6th Edition

Name

which

Synopsis

which [options] [--
] [commands]

List the full pathnames of the files that would be executed if the named commands had been run. which searches the user’s $PATH environment variable.

Options

-a, --all

Print all matches, not just the first.

-i, --read-alias

Read aliases from standard input and write matches to standard output. Useful for using an alias for which.

--read-functions

Read shell functions from standard input and report matches to standard output. Useful for also using a shell function for which itself.

--skip-alias

Ignore --read-alias if present. Useful for finding normal binaries while using --read-alias in an alias for which.

--show-dot

If a matching command is found in a directory that starts with a dot, print ./cmdname instead of the full pathname.

--show-tilde

Print a tilde (˜) to indicate the user’s home directory. Ignored if the user is root.

--skip-dot

Skip directories that start with a dot.

--skip-functions

Ignore --read-functions if present. Useful when searching for normal binaries while using --read-functions in an alias or function for which.

--skip-tilde

Skip directories that start with a tilde (˜) and executables in $HOME.

--tty-only

Stop processing options on the right if not on a terminal.

-v, -V, --version

Print version information and then exit.

--help

Print help information and then exit.

Example

$ which cc ls
/usr/bin/cc
ls:      aliased to ls -sFC