SYSTEM(3)

NAME
2.45 `system'--execute command string

SYNOPSIS
     #include <stdlib.h>
     int system(char *S);
     int _system_r(void *REENT, char *S);

DESCRIPTION
Use `system' to pass a command string `*S' to `/bin/sh' on your system, and wait for it to finish executing.
   Use "`system(NULL)'" to test whether your system has `/bin/sh' available.
   The alternate function `_system_r' is a reentrant version. The extra argument REENT is a pointer to a reentrancy structure.

RETURNS
`system(NULL)' returns a non-zero value if `/bin/sh' is available, and `0' if it is not.
   With a command argument, the result of `system' is the exit status returned by `/bin/sh'.

PORTABILITY
ANSI C requires `system', but leaves the nature and effects of a command processor undefined. ANSI C does, however, specify that `system(NULL)' return zero or nonzero to report on the existence of a command processor.
   POSIX.2 requires `system', and requires that it invoke a `sh'. Where `sh' is found is left unspecified.
   Supporting OS subroutines required: `_exit', `_execve', `_fork_r', `_wait_r'.

SEE ALSO
system is part of the library. The full documentation for is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If info and are properly installed at your site, the command

    info

will give you access to the complete manual.