fish-shell/doc_src/cmds/trap.rst

.. _cmd-trap:

trap - perform an action when the shell receives a signal
=========================================================

Synopsis
--------

``trap`` [*options*] [[*ARG*] *REASON* ... ]

Description
-----------

``trap`` is a wrapper around the fish event delivery framework. It exists for backwards compatibility with POSIX shells. For other uses, it is recommended to define an :ref:`event handler <event>`.

The following parameters are available:

- ``ARG`` is the command to be executed on signal delivery.

- ``REASON`` is the name of the event to trap. For example, a signal like ``INT`` or ``SIGINT``, or the special symbol ``EXIT``.

- ``-l`` or ``--list-signals`` prints a list of signal names.

- ``-p`` or ``--print`` prints all defined signal handlers.

If ``ARG`` and ``REASON`` are both specified, ``ARG`` is the command to be executed when the event specified by ``REASON`` occurs (e.g., the signal is delivered).

If ``ARG`` is absent (and there is a single REASON) or -, each specified signal is reset to its original disposition (the value it had upon entrance to the shell).  If ``ARG`` is the null string the signal specified by each ``REASON`` is ignored by the shell and by the commands it invokes.

If ``ARG`` is not present and ``-p`` has been supplied, then the trap commands associated with each ``REASON`` are displayed. If no arguments are supplied or if only ``-p`` is given, ``trap`` prints the list of commands associated with each signal.

Signal names are case insensitive and the ``SIG`` prefix is optional.

The exit status is 1 if any ``REASON`` is invalid; otherwise trap returns 0.

Example
-------



::

    trap "status --print-stack-trace" SIGUSR1
    # Prints a stack trace each time the SIGUSR1 signal is sent to the shell.