# phpman > man > PATHCHK(1)

> **TLDR:** Check the validity and portability of pathnames.
>
- Check pathnames for validity in the current system:
  `pathchk {{path1 path2 ...}}`
- Check pathnames for validity on a wider range of POSIX compliant systems:
  `pathchk -p {{path1 path2 ...}}`
- Check pathnames for validity on all POSIX compliant systems:
  `pathchk {{-p -P|--portability}} {{path1 path2 ...}}`
- Only check for empty pathnames or leading dashes (-):
  `pathchk -P {{path1 path2 ...}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

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[PATHCHK(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PATHCHK/1/markdown)                                  User Commands                                 [PATHCHK(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PATHCHK/1/markdown)



## NAME
       pathchk - check whether file names are valid or portable

## SYNOPSIS
       **pathchk** [_OPTION_]... _NAME_...

## DESCRIPTION
       Diagnose invalid or unportable file names.

### -p

### -P

### --portability
              check for all POSIX systems (equivalent to **-p** **-P**)

       **--help** display this help and exit

### --version
              output version information and exit

## AUTHOR
       Written by Paul Eggert, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

## REPORTING BUGS
       GNU coreutils online help: <<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>>
       Report any translation bugs to <<https://translationproject.org/team/>>

## COPYRIGHT
       Copyright  ©  2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later
       <<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>>.
       This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY,  to
       the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO
       Full documentation <<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/pathchk>>
       or available locally via: info '(coreutils) pathchk invocation'



GNU coreutils 8.32                          January 2026                                  [PATHCHK(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PATHCHK/1/markdown)