How To Find Your User ID (UID) Using Terminal

In Unix-based systems like Linux and macOS, every user is assigned a unique identifier known as a User ID (UID). This UID is used by the system to manage user permissions and differentiate between users. In this article, we will guide you through the process of finding your UID using the terminal.

What is a User ID (UID)?

A User ID, or UID, is a unique positive integer assigned by a Unix-like operating system to each user. Each user is identified to the system by its UID, and user names are generally used only as an interface for humans.

Why Do You Need to Know Your UID?

Knowing your UID can be useful for a variety of reasons. For instance, system administrators may need to manage user permissions, in which case they would need to know the UIDs of all users. Additionally, some command line tools require the UID instead of the username.

How to Find Your UID

There are several ways to find your UID using the terminal. Here are the most common methods:

Using the id Command

The id command is a simple and effective way to find your UID. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Type id -u <username> and press enter.

In this command, -u is an option that tells the id command to display the user identifier. <username> should be replaced with your username. If you don’t provide a username, the command will default to the current user.

For example, if your username is ‘john’, you would type id -u john.

Using the echo Command

Another way to find your UID is by using the echo command:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Type echo $UID and press enter.

This command will print the UID of the current user. $UID is a shell variable that stores the UID of the current user. Note that this is not an environment variable and may not be available in all contexts.

Using the id Command Without Arguments

If you want to see more information about your user account, you can use the id command without any arguments:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Type id and press enter.

This command will display the UID, group ID (GID), and all the groups the current user is a part of.

Conclusion

Knowing how to find your UID using the terminal can be very useful, especially if you’re a system administrator or use command line tools that require the UID. By using the id or echo commands, you can easily find your UID and other information about your user account.

Remember, the terminal is a powerful tool. Always be careful when using commands that you’re unfamiliar with, especially if they require administrative permissions.