POSIX

[|**What is POSIX? What is POSIX.1?**]

POSIX is a registered trademark of the IEEE.

POSIX is an acronym for **P**ortable **O**perating **S**ystem **I**nterface.

Although originated to refer to the original IEEE Std 1003.1-1988, the name POSIX more correctly refers to a family of related standards: IEEE Std 1003.//n// (where //n// is a number) and the parts of ISO/IEC 9945. The term POSIX was originally used as a synonym for IEEE Std 1003.1-1988. A preferred term for that standard, POSIX.1, emerged. This maintained the advantages of readability of the symbol ``POSIX'' without being ambiguous with the POSIX family of standards.

For a full listing of the project numbers see PASC Standing Document [|SD11].

The name POSIX was suggested by Richard Stallman. It is expected to be pronounced pahz-icks, as in positive, not poh-six, or other variations. The pronunciation has been published in an attempt to promulgate a standardized way of referring to a standard operating system interface.

The latest version of the POSIX.1 standard is IEEE Std 1003.1, 2008 Edition, developed by the Austin Group (see later). For further information on the background, audience and purpose of POSIX.1 see the following document:

URL:[].