type -t alias keyword function builtin file | ls is aliased to `ls --color=tty'

[me@linuxbox me]$ type type
type is a shell builtin

[me@linuxbox me]$ type ls
ls is aliased to `ls --color=tty'

[me@linuxbox me]$ type cp
cp is /bin/cp

Find Out Command Type (-t option)

If the -t option is used, it will print a single word which is one of the following

• alias (command is shell alias)
• keyword (command is shell reserved word)
• function (command is shell function)
• builtin (command is shell builtin)
• file (command is disk file)

type -t Command Examples

Try the following examples:

Command	Output	Meaning
type -t ls	alias	ls command is alias which can be verified by typing the alias command itself at a shell prompt: alias
type -t date	file	date command is a disk file (external command), which can be verified by issued the which date command at a shell prompt: which date
type -t xrpm	function	xrpm is a user defined function.
type -t if	keyword	if is a shell reserved word, which is used for flow control.
type -t pwd	builtin	pwd is a shell builtin command.