TMPDIR

TMPDIR is the canonical Unix environment variable that should be used to specify a temporary directory for scratch space. Most Unix programs will honor this setting and use its value to denote the scratch area for temporary files instead of the common default of /tmp[1][2] or /var/tmp.[3]

Other forms sometimes accepted are TEMP, TEMPDIR and TMP, but these alternatives are used more commonly by non-POSIX operating systems or non-conformant programs.

TMPDIR is specified in various Unix and similar standards, e.g. per the Single UNIX Specification.[4]

References

  1. ^ "The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 7, IEEE Std 1003.1-2008, Base Definitions volume: Directory Structure and Files: /tmp". The Open Group. http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/basedefs/V1_chap10.html#tag_10_01. Retrieved 2011-04-02. 
  2. ^ "Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, version is 2.3: /tmp: Temporary files". Linux Foundation. http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html#TMPTEMPORARYFILES. Retrieved 2010-06-13. 
  3. ^ "Filesystem Hierarchy Standard, version is 2.3: /var/tmp: Temporary files preserved between system reboots". Linux Foundation. http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html#VARTMPTEMPORARYFILESPRESERVEDBETWEE. Retrieved 2010-06-13. 
  4. ^ "The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 7, IEEE Std 1003.1-2008, Base Definitions volume: Environment Variables: Other Environment Variables: TMPDIR". The Open Group. http://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/basedefs/V1_chap08.html#tag_08_03. Retrieved 2011-04-02.