system

Execute an external program and display the output

&reftitle.description; ``string``false```system` `string` `command` `int` `result_code`&null;

`system` is just like the C version of the function in that it executes the given `command` and outputs the result.

The `system` call also tries to automatically flush the web server's output buffer after each line of output if PHP is running as a server module.

If you need to execute a command and have all the data from the command passed directly back without any interference, use the `passthru` function.

&reftitle.parameters;

`command`

- The command that will be executed.

`result_code`

- If the `result_code` argument is present, then the return status of the executed command will be written to this variable.

&reftitle.returnvalues;

Returns the last line of the command output on success, and &false; on failure.

&reftitle.examples;

### `system` example

    <?php
    echo '<pre>';

    // Outputs all the result of shellcommand "ls", and returns
    // the last output line into $last_line. Stores the return value
    // of the shell command in $retval.
    $last_line = system('ls', $retval);

    // Printing additional info
    echo '
    </pre>
    <hr />Last line of the output: ' . $last_line . '
    <hr />Return value: ' . $retval;
    ?>

&reftitle.notes; &warn.escapeshell; ¬e.exec-bg;
&reftitle.seealso;

- `exec`
- `passthru`
- `popen`
- `escapeshellcmd`
- `pcntl_exec`
- backtick operator