NAME¶
lua - Lua interpreter
SYNOPSIS¶
lua [
options ] [
script [
args ] ]
DESCRIPTION¶
lua is the standalone Lua interpreter. It loads and executes Lua
programs, either in textual source form or in precompiled binary form.
(Precompiled binaries are output by
luac, the Lua compiler.)
lua
can be used as a batch interpreter and also interactively.
The given
options are handled in order and then the Lua program in file
script is loaded and executed. The given
args are available to
script as strings in a global table named
arg. If no options or
arguments are given, then
-v -i is assumed when the standard input is a
terminal; otherwise,
- is assumed.
In interactive mode,
lua prompts the user, reads lines from the standard
input, and executes them as they are read. If the line contains an expression
or list of expressions, then the line is evaluated and the results are
printed. If a line does not contain a complete statement, then a secondary
prompt is displayed and lines are read until a complete statement is formed or
a syntax error is found.
At the very start, before even handling the command line,
lua checks the
contents of the environment variables
LUA_INIT_5_3 or
LUA_INIT,
in that order. If the contents is of the form '@
filename', then
filename is executed. Otherwise, the string is assumed to be a Lua
statement and is executed.
OPTIONS¶
- -e stat
- execute statement stat.
- -i
- enter interactive mode after executing script.
- -l name
- execute the equivalent of name=require('name')
before executing script.
- -v
- show version information.
- -E
- ignore environment variables.
- --
- stop handling options.
- -
- stop handling options and execute the standard input as a file.
SEE ALSO¶
luac(1)
The documentation at lua.org, especially section 7 of the reference manual.
DIAGNOSTICS¶
Error messages should be self explanatory.
AUTHORS¶
R. Ierusalimschy, L. H. de Figueiredo, W. Celes