> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/system-operators.md).

# System

The `system` operator allows you to run an external command and use its output as a value in your expression.

**Security warning**: The system operator is disabled by default. You must explicitly pass `--security-enable-system-operator` to use it.

**Note:** When enabled, the system operator can replicate the functionality of `env` and `load` operators via external commands. Enabling it effectively overrides `--security-disable-env-ops` and `--security-disable-file-ops`.

## Usage

```bash
yq --security-enable-system-operator --null-input '.field = system("command"; "arg1")'
```

The operator takes:

* A command string (required)
* An argument (or an array of arguments), separated from the command by `;` (optional)

The current matched node's value is serialised and piped to the command via stdin. The command's stdout (with trailing newline stripped) is returned as a string.

## Disabling the system operator

The system operator is disabled by default. When disabled, an error is returned instead of running the command, consistent with `--security-disable-env-ops` and `--security-disable-file-ops`.

Use `--security-enable-system-operator` flag to enable it.

## system operator returns error when disabled

Use `--security-enable-system-operator` to enable the system operator.

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
country: Australia
```

then

```bash
yq '.country = system("/usr/bin/echo"; "test")' sample.yml
```

will output

```bash
Error: system operations are disabled, use --security-enable-system-operator to enable
```

## Run a command with an argument

Use `--security-enable-system-operator` to enable the system operator.

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
country: Australia
```

then

```bash
yq --security-enable-system-operator '.country = system("/usr/bin/echo"; "test")' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
country: test
```

## Run a command without arguments

Omit the semicolon and args to run the command with no extra arguments.

Given a sample.yml file of:

```yaml
a: hello
```

then

```bash
yq --security-enable-system-operator '.a = system("/usr/bin/echo")' sample.yml
```

will output

```yaml
a: ""
```