MKFIFO(1) User Commands MKFIFO(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

mkfifo - make FIFOs (named pipes)

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**mkfifo** \[*OPTION*]... *NAME*...

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Create named pipes (FIFOs) with the given NAMEs.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

[**-m, --mode=MODE**](#m,)

set file permission bits to MODE, not a=rw - umask

[**-Z**](#Z)

set the SELinux security context to default type

[**--context\[=CTX\]**](#context_=CTX_)

like **-Z**, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX

[**--help**](#help)

display this help and exit

[**--version**](#version)

output version information and exit

# [AUTHOR](#AUTHOR)

Written by David MacKenzie.

# [REPORTING BUGS](#REPORTING_BUGS)

Report bugs to: <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.  
Report any translation bugs to: <https://translationproject.org/team/>.  
GNU coreutils home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>  
General help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>

# [COPYRIGHT](#COPYRIGHT)

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.  
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**mkfifo**(3)](/man/os/coreutils/mkfifo.3)

Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/mkfifo>  
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) mkfifo invocation'

October 2026 GNU coreutils 9.12

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Document: mkfifo(1) from coreutils 9.12-r6 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/coreutils.git