NAME

time − Times the execution of a command

SYNOPSIS

time [-p] command [argument ...]

The time command prints the elapsed time during the execution of a command, the time spent in the system, and the time spent in execution of the command on the diagnostic output system. 

FLAGS

-pWrites the timing output to standard error.  This is the default. 

DESCRIPTION

The time command prints the elapsed time during the execution of a command, the time spent in the system, and the time spent in execution of the command on the diagnostic output system. Time is reported in seconds. 

The time command (with a different format) is also built into csh. 

EXAMPLES

To measure the time required to run a program, enter:

time a.out

This runs the program a.out and writes to the standard error output the amount of real, system, and user time that it uses:

real10.5
user 0.3
sys 3.6

EXIT VALUES

The time command returns the following exit values:

1-125An error occurred. 

126The utility was found but could not be invoked. 

127The utility could not be found. 

RELATED INFORMATION

Functions:  times(3).