---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, osx]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# whence

> A Zsh builtin to indicate how a command would be interpreted.
> More information: <https://keith.github.io/xcode-man-pages/whence.1.html>.

- Interpret `command`, with expansion if defined as an `alias` (similar to the `command -v` builtin):

`whence "{{command}}"`

- Display type of `command`, with location if defined as a function, or binary (equivalent to the `type` and `command -V` builtins):

`whence -v "{{command}}"`

- Same as above, except display content of shell functions instead of location (equivalent to `which` builtin):

`whence -c "{{command}}"`

- Same as above, but show all occurrences on command path (equivalent to the `where` builtin):

`whence -ca "{{command}}"`

- Search only the `PATH` for `command`, ignoring builtins, aliases or shell functions (equivalent to the `where` command):

`whence -p "{{command}}"`
