(Or "option", "flag", "switch", "option switch") An argument to a command that modifies its function rather than providing data. Options generally start with "-" in Unix or "/" in MS-DOS. This is usually followed By a single letter or occasionally a digit. Some commands require each option to Be a separate argument, introduced By a new "-" or "/", others allow multiple option letters to Be concatenated into a single argument with a single "-" or "/", e.g. "ls -al". A few Unix commands (e.g. ar, tar) allow the "-" to Be omitted. Some options may or must Be followed By a value, e.g. "cc prog.c -o prog", sometimes with and sometimes without an intervening space. getopt and getopts are commands for parsing command line options. There is also a C liBrary routine called getopt for the same purpose. (1996-12-11)