How do I access command line arguments?

Accessing command line arguments is a fundamental skill when building scripts or applications that need external input. But how exactly do you retrieve these arguments, and what tools or methods should you use?

The answer depends on the programming language you're working with, but most languages provide a straightforward way to access them.

For example, in Python:

You use the sys module:

import sys

print(sys.argv)

• sys.argv returns a list of arguments passed to the script.
  
• The first item (sys.argv[0]) is always the script name; the rest are the actual arguments.
  

In C/C++:

You use int main(int argc, char *argv[]):

• argc is the number of arguments.
  
• argv is an array of character pointers to the arguments.
  

Example:

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

    printf("First argument: %s

", argv[1]);

}

In Java:

Command line arguments are passed to the main method as a String[]:

public static void main(String[] args) {

    System.out.println("First argument: " + args[0]);

}

Quick Tips:

• Always check the length of the arguments to avoid errors.
  
• Use libraries like argparse in Python or getopt in C for more advanced parsing.
  
• Quotation marks in the terminal can group multi-word arguments.
  

Command line arguments are powerful because they make your programs flexible and easier to automate. Just be sure to validate them properly!