visudo

Linux · Users and permissions · reference only

What it does

Edits /etc/sudoers by locking it and checking the syntax before saving, so sudo is not left unusable.

Syntax

visudo [opciones]

Options and parameters

• -c

  Only checks the sudoers syntax and exits.

• -f fichero

  Edits or checks another file, such as one in /etc/sudoers.d/.

• -s

  Strict mode: treats any alias used without being defined as an error.

• -q

  Quiet mode: prints fewer messages when checking.

• -V

  Shows the version and the sudoers configuration.

Usage examples

• sudo visudo

  Opens /etc/sudoers in the editor and validates on save.

• sudo visudo -c

  Checks the syntax of the current configuration.

• sudo visudo -f /etc/sudoers.d/devs

  Creates or edits your own rule without touching the main file.

• sudo visudo -cf /etc/sudoers.d/devs

  Checks only that rules file.

Notes and common mistakes

• It uses the editor set in EDITOR or VISUAL.
• For rules about one group or user it is cleaner to use files in /etc/sudoers.d/.
• A badly written sudoers line can lock you out of sudo: never edit it with a plain editor.

Related commands

• addgroup
• adduser
• chgrp
• chmod
• chown
• delgroup