# phpman > info > mkstemp

[MH-MKSTEMP(1mh)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MH-MKSTEMP/1mh/markdown)                                                [MH-MKSTEMP(1mh)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MH-MKSTEMP/1mh/markdown)

NAME
       mkstemp - create a temporary file

SYNOPSIS
       /usr/lib/mh/mkstemp [-help] [-version] [-directory directory] [-prefix
            prefix] [-suffix suffix]

DESCRIPTION
       mkstemp creates a temporary file using [mkstemp(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkstemp/3/markdown), or  if  the  -suffix
       switch  is available and used, [mkstemps(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkstemps/3/markdown).  The file name identifies a
       unique, newly created file, and always contains 6 characters  that  ap-
       pear to be random.

       The  -directory  switch  specifies  a  directory in which to create the
       file.

       The -prefix switch specifies an initial part, before the 6  characters,
       of the file name.

       The  -suffix switch is only supported on platforms that provide the mk-
       [stemps(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/stemps/3/markdown) library function.  It specifies a suffix to appear after  the
       6 characters; if it should begin with a special character such as a pe-
       riod, that must be explicit in suffix.

       Unlike arguments to most switches of other nmh commands, the  arguments
       to mkstemp switches can begin with a dash.

EXIT STATUS
       If  mkstemp successfully creates the temporary file, it prints the file
       name on standard output and exits with status 0.  On failure, it prints
       a diagnostic message on standard error and exits with status 255.

PROFILE COMPONENTS
       None

SEE ALSO
       [mkstemp(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkstemp/3/markdown), [mkstemps(3)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkstemps/3/markdown)

DEFAULTS
       -directory    current directory
       -prefix       none
       -suffix       none

nmh-1.7.1                         2014-03-16                   [MH-MKSTEMP(1mh)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MH-MKSTEMP/1mh/markdown)