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getopt — Parse command-line arguments. More information: <https://manned.org/getopt>.

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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linux

Problem

How to use the getopt command: Parse command-line arguments. More information: <https://manned.org/getopt>.

Solution

getopt — Parse command-line arguments. More information: <https://manned.org/getopt>.

Parse optional verbose/version flags with shorthands:

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} vV {{[-l|--longoptions]}} verbose,version -- --version --verbose

Add a --file option with a required argument with shorthand -f:

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} f: {{[-l|--longoptions]}} file: -- --file=somefile

Add a --verbose option with an optional argument with shorthand -v, and pass a non-option parameter arg:

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} v:: {{[-l|--longoptions]}} verbose:: -- --verbose arg

Accept a -r and --verbose flag, a --accept option with an optional argument and add a --target with a required argument option with shorthands:

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} rv::s::t: {{[-l|--longoptions]}} verbose,source::,target: -- -v --target target

Code Snippets

Parse optional `verbose`/`version` flags with shorthands

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} vV {{[-l|--longoptions]}} verbose,version -- --version --verbose

Add a `--file` option with a required argument with shorthand `-f`

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} f: {{[-l|--longoptions]}} file: -- --file=somefile

Add a `--verbose` option with an optional argument with shorthand `-v`, and pass a non-option parameter `arg`

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} v:: {{[-l|--longoptions]}} verbose:: -- --verbose arg

Accept a `-r` and `--verbose` flag, a `--accept` option with an optional argument and add a `--target` with a required argument option with shorthands

getopt {{[-o|--options]}} rv::s::t: {{[-l|--longoptions]}} verbose,source::,target: -- -v --target target

Context

tldr-pages: linux/getopt

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