Function: shell-command-to-string

shell-command-to-string is a byte-compiled function defined in simple.el.gz.

Signature

(shell-command-to-string COMMAND)

Documentation

Execute shell command COMMAND and return its output as a string.

Use shell-quote-argument to quote dangerous characters in COMMAND before passing it as an argument to this function.

Use this function only when a shell interpreter is needed. In other cases, consider alternatives such as call-process or process-lines, which do not invoke the shell. Consider using built-in functions like rename-file instead of the external command "mv". For more information, see Info node
(elisp)Security Considerations.

View in manual

Probably introduced at or before Emacs version 20.1.

Source Code

;; Defined in /usr/src/emacs/lisp/simple.el.gz
(defun shell-command-to-string (command)
  "Execute shell command COMMAND and return its output as a string.
Use `shell-quote-argument' to quote dangerous characters in
COMMAND before passing it as an argument to this function.

Use this function only when a shell interpreter is needed.  In
other cases, consider alternatives such as `call-process' or
`process-lines', which do not invoke the shell.  Consider using
built-in functions like `rename-file' instead of the external
command \"mv\".  For more information, see Info node
`(elisp)Security Considerations'."
  (with-output-to-string
    (with-current-buffer standard-output
      (shell-command command t))))