type Command in Linux: Show Command Type and Location

The type command shows how the current shell would interpret a name entered on the command line. Depending on the shell, it can identify aliases, functions, builtins, keywords, and executable files.

This article explains how to use the type builtin, with Bash examples and notes where Zsh and other popular shells behave differently.

How to Use the type Command #

type is a shell builtin in Bash, Zsh, and Ksh, but the supported options and output format are not identical across shells. The examples below use Bash syntax, and option availability should be checked in your current shell with help type, type --help, or the shell documentation.

The syntax for the type command is as follows:

type [OPTIONS] NAME...

For example, to find the type of the wc command , you would type the following:

type wc

The output will be something like this:

wc is /usr/bin/wc

You can also provide more than one argument to the type command:

type sleep head

The output will include information about both sleep and head commands:

sleep is /bin/sleep
head is /usr/bin/head

Command Types #

The option -t tells type to print a single word describing the type of the command which can be one of the following:

• alias (shell alias)
• function (shell function)
• builtin (shell builtin)
• file (disk file)
• keyword (shell reserved word)

The exact wording may differ between shells. For example, Zsh can report command where Bash reports file.

Here are a few examples:

1. Alias

   Terminal

   type -t grep

   In my system grep is aliased to grep --color=auto:

   output

   alias

2. Function

   Terminal

   type -t rvm

   rvm is a tool (function) for installing, managing, and working with multiple Ruby environments:

   output

   function

3. Builtin

   Terminal

   type -t echo

   echo is a shell builtin in Bash and other shells like Zsh and Ksh:

   output

   builtin

4. File

   Terminal

   type -t cut

   cut is an executable file:

   output

   file

5. Keyword

   Terminal

   type -t for

   for is a reserved word in Bash:

   output

   keyword

Display all locations that contain the command #

To print all matches, use the -a option:

This option is supported by Bash and Zsh, but the order and wording of the results may differ.

type -a pwd

The output will show you that pwd is a shell builtin but it is also available as a standalone /bin/pwd executable:

pwd is a shell builtin
pwd is /bin/pwd

When -a is used without -p, type can include aliases and functions in addition to executable files.

Additional Options #

In Bash and Zsh, the -p option prints the path only when the resolved name is an executable file on disk:

For example, this command may print nothing because pwd is usually resolved as a shell builtin.

type -p pwd

In Bash, the uppercase -P option tells type to search PATH for an executable file on disk even when the name also resolves to a builtin or function. This option may not be available in all shells.

type -P pwd

/bin/pwd

The -f option tells type to skip shell functions during lookup. Support for this option may vary by shell.

Quick Reference #

FAQ #

What is the difference between type and which?
which searches only PATH for executable files. type is a shell builtin that also identifies aliases, functions, keywords, and other builtins — making it more complete for understanding how the shell will resolve a name.

What does it mean when type says a command is a builtin?
The command is handled directly by the shell without forking a new process. Examples include echo, cd, pwd, and type itself.

Why does type -p return nothing for some commands?
-p only prints a path when the command is an executable file on disk. Builtins, functions, aliases, and keywords produce no output with -p.

Does the type command behave the same in Bash and Zsh?
No. type is a shell builtin, so supported options and output format can differ between Bash, Zsh, and other shells. If you need a portable way to check whether a command exists in a script, prefer command -v name.

Can I use type in a script to check if a command exists?
Yes. Use type -P command or type command > /dev/null 2>&1 and check the exit code. Exit code 0 means the command was found; a non-zero exit code means it was not.

Conclusion #

The type command shows how the shell will interpret a given name — whether it resolves to a builtin, alias, function, keyword, or an executable on disk. It is more thorough than which for understanding shell name resolution.

About the authors

Dejan Panovski

Dejan Panovski is the founder of Linuxize, an RHCSA-certified Linux system administrator and DevOps engineer based in Skopje, Macedonia. Author of 800+ Linux tutorials with 20+ years of experience turning complex Linux tasks into clear, reliable guides.

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