program_invocation_name(3) — Linux manual page

program_...tion_name(3)  Library Functions Manual program_...tion_name(3)

NAME         top

       program_invocation_name, program_invocation_short_name - obtain
       name used to invoke calling program

LIBRARY         top

       Standard C library (libc, -lc)

SYNOPSIS         top

       #define _GNU_SOURCE         /* See feature_test_macros(7) */
       #include <errno.h>

       extern char *program_invocation_name;
       extern char *program_invocation_short_name;

DESCRIPTION         top

       program_invocation_name contains the name that was used to invoke
       the calling program.  This is the same as the value of argv[0] in
       main(), with the difference that the scope of
       program_invocation_name is global.

       program_invocation_short_name contains the basename component of
       name that was used to invoke the calling program.  That is, it is
       the same value as program_invocation_name, with all text up to and
       including the final slash (/), if any, removed.

       These variables are automatically initialized by the glibc run-
       time startup code.

VERSIONS         top

       The Linux-specific /proc/pid/cmdline file provides access to
       similar information.

STANDARDS         top

       GNU.

SEE ALSO         top

       proc(5)

COLOPHON         top

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Linux man-pages 6.15            2025-05-17        program_...tion_name(3)

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