SYSTEM(3)                 386BSD Programmer's Manual                 SYSTEM(3)

NAME
     system - pass a command to the shell

SYNOPSIS
     #include <stdlib.h>

     int
     system(const char *string)

DESCRIPTION
     The system() function hands the argument string to the command
     interpreter sh(1).  The calling process waits for the shell to finish
     executing the command, ignoring SIGINT and SIGQUIT, and blocking SIGCHLD.

     If string is a NULL pointer, system() will return non-zero if the command
     interpreter sh(1) is available, and zero if it is not.

     The system() function returns the exit status of the shell, or -1 if the
     wait(3) for the shell failed.  A return value of 127 means the execution
     of the shell failed.

SEE ALSO
     sh(1),  execve(2),  wait(2),  popen(3)

STANDARDS
     The system() function conforms to ANSI C3.159-1989 (``ANSI C'').

BSD Experimental                 June 29, 1991                               1