mesg

system administrationLinux/Unix

The mesg command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. mesg Control write access to your terminal

See Examples View Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

mesg

Category:

system administration

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

mesg [options] [arguments]

Common Use Cases

Syntax

mesg [y|n]

Options

Option	Description
`y`	Allow write access to your terminal
`n`	Deny write access to your terminal
`--help`	Display help information
`--version`	Output version information

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the mesg command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

# Basic Examples Basic

mesg

Display the current message permission status.

mesg y

Allow write access to your terminal.

mesg n

Deny write access to your terminal. # Advanced Examples Advanced mesg y && echo "Terminal is now writable" Enable write access and confirm with a message. if mesg | grep -q "is y"; then echo "Terminal is writable"; fi Check if terminal is writable and display a message. mesg n && wall "I am busy now, try again later" Disable messages, but send a broadcast message to all users. mesg n; sleep 3600; mesg y Disable messages for an hour, then re-enable them. tty | xargs -I{} mesg y {} Enable write access to a specific terminal device.

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

The 'mesg' command is a simple utility in Unix and Linux systems that controls whether other users can send messages to your terminal using commands like 'write' or 'wall'. This provides a basic form of privacy control over your terminal session, allowing you to prevent or permit others from interrupting your work with messages. Key features of the mesg command: 1. Access Control: The primary purpose of mesg is to toggle the write permission on your terminal device, effectively controlling whether other users can send messages to your screen. 2. Simple Interface: The command takes a single argument, either 'y' (yes) to allow messages or 'n' (no) to block them, making it straightforward to use. 3. Status Reporting: Running mesg without arguments displays the current permission status, showing whether your terminal is currently accepting messages. 4. System Integration: The command is closely integrated with other communication utilities like 'write', 'wall', and 'talk', which respect the permissions set by mesg. 5. Terminal-Specific: The mesg setting applies only to the current terminal session and doesn't affect other sessions you might have open. 6. Persistence: The setting remains in effect until explicitly changed or until you log out, providing consistent behavior during your session. 7. Override Capability: System administrators can still send messages via 'wall -n' even if you've disabled messages with 'mesg n', ensuring important announcements can reach all users. Common use cases for mesg include: - Preventing interruptions during focused work or presentations - Enabling communication with colleagues in collaborative environments - Temporarily blocking messages during important tasks - Setting up automated scripts that manage communication permissions based on time or activity - Checking whether a terminal is configured to receive messages before attempting to send one It's worth noting that mesg only controls terminal write access and doesn't affect other forms of communication such as email, chat applications, or graphical notification systems. In modern computing environments with graphical interfaces and multiple communication channels, the relevance of mesg has diminished somewhat, but it remains a useful tool in traditional terminal-based workflows and server environments where users share systems and need to communicate directly via the terminal. The mesg command is typically available by default on most Unix and Linux distributions, requiring no additional installation.

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside mesg or serve similar purposes:

Use Cases

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the mesg command works in different scenarios.

See Examples Try Lab Exercises

$ mesg

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