exec*()

The exec*() family of functions replaces the current process with a new process, loaded from an executable file. Since the calling process is replaced, there can be no successful return.

The following exec*() functions are defined:

execl()

Exec with the command line provided as inline arguments.

execle()

execl() with explicitly passed environment variables.

execlp()

execl() that follows the command search path.

execlpe()

execlp()with explicitly passed environment variables.

execv()

execl() with the command line pointed to by an array of pointers.

execve()

execv() with explicitly passed environment variables.

execvp()

execv() that follows the command search path.

execvpe()

execvp() with explicitly passed environment variables.

The exec*() functions usually follow a fork() in order to load a new child process. This is better achieved by using the posix_spawn() call.