mkdir(1)mkdir(1)NAMEmkdir - Makes a directory
SYNOPSISmkdir [-m mode] [-p] directory...
STANDARDS
Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry stan‐
dards as follows:
mkdir: XCU5.0
Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about
industry standards and associated tags.
OPTIONS
Sets the file permissions to mode, a symbolic mode string as defined
for chmod, after creating the specified directory. The mode argument
can be either an absolute mode string or a symbolic mode string as
defined for chmod. See the chmod(1) reference page.
In symbolic mode strings, the operation characters + and - are
interpreted relative to an assumed initial mode of a=rwx, A +
adds permissions to the default mode, whereas a - deletes per‐
missions from the default mode. Creates intermediate directo‐
ries as necessary; otherwise, the full path name prefix to
directory must already exist. The user must have mkdir write
permission in the parent directory.
Each component of directory that does not name an existing
directory is created with mode 777, modified by the current file
mode creation mask (umask). The equivalent of chmod u+wx is
performed on each component to ensure that mkdir can create
lower directories regardless of the setting of umask. Each com‐
ponent of directory that names an existing directory is ignored
without error. If an intermediate path name component exists,
but permissions are set to prevent writing or searching, mkdir
fails and returns an error message. The mode argument does not
apply to any intermediate directories created when the -p option
is specified.
OPERANDS
The path name of the directory to be created.
DESCRIPTION
The mkdir command creates new directories with read, write, and execute
permissions based upon the permissions established by the umask set‐
ting.
[Tru64 UNIX] The mkdir command also creates the standard entries (dot)
for the directory itself and (dot dot) for its parent.
NOTES
Some of the requested directories may be created although an error
occurs subsequent to the directory creation. If the directory speci‐
fied by the -p option already exists, the command does not return an
error status, in compliance with POSIX.2. [Tru64 UNIX] To make a new
directory, you must have write permission in the parent directory.
EXIT STATUS
The following exit values are returned: All requested directories were
created, or the -p option was used and all of the requested directories
now exist. An error occurred.
EXAMPLES
To create a new directory called test, enter: mkdir test To set file
permissions for new directory test in absolute mode, enter: mkdir-m
444 test To set file permissions for new directory test in symbolic
mode, enter: mkdir -m+rw test
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
The following environment variables affect the execution of mkdir: Pro‐
vides a default value for the internationalization variables that are
unset or null. If LANG is unset or null, the corresponding value from
the default locale is used. If any of the internationalization vari‐
ables contain an invalid setting, the utility behaves as if none of the
variables had been defined. If set to a non-empty string value, over‐
rides the values of all the other internationalization variables.
Determines the locale for the interpretation of sequences of bytes of
text data as characters (for example, single-byte as opposed to multi‐
byte characters in arguments). Determines the locale for the format
and contents of diagnostic messages written to standard error. Deter‐
mines the location of message catalogues for the processing of LC_MES‐
SAGES.
SEE ALSO
Commands: chmod(1), rm(1), rmdir(1), Bourne shell sh(1b), POSIX shell
sh(1p), umask(1)
Functions: mkdir(2)
Standards: standards(5)mkdir(1)