false command in Linux with examples

'false' command is used to return an exit status code ("1" by default) that indicates failure. It is useful when the user wants a conditional expression or an argument to always be unsuccessful. When no argument is passed to the false command, it fails with no output and exit status as 1.

Syntax

false [argument]

Basic 'false' command Example

We can see that no output is returned but we can check the exit status value by checking the value of the special shell variable i.e. ?, that contains the exit status of the false command. Since '?' is a variable, we need to prefix it with '$' for the reference.

"$?"

To print the exit status of the previous command.

Common Options used with the false Command

Implementing false command in an if statement

We can use the false command in if statement when we want to execute a statement/command if the condition becomes false.

Syntax:

if false; then [Executable statements]; else [Executable statement]; fi

Example:

if false; then echo "It's false"; else echo "It's True"; fi

Conclusion

The false command may seem simple, but it plays a critical role in Linux shell scripting and command-line operations. By always returning a non-zero exit status, false enables developers and administrators to simulate failures, control script execution, and test negative conditions. The false command is a powerful tool for managing control flow and error handling and can be used in if statements, loops, or automation scripts.

suraj1994

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Article Tags :

• Linux-Unix
• linux-command