NAME

       lua - Lua interpreter

SYNOPSIS

       lua [ options ] [ script [ args ] ]

DESCRIPTION

       lua is the standalone Lua interpreter.  It loads and executes Lua programs, either in textual source form
       or in precompiled binary form.  (Precompiled binaries are output by luac, the Lua compiler.)  lua can  be
       used as a batch interpreter and also interactively.

       The  given  options  are handled in order and then the Lua program in file script is loaded and executed.
       The given args are available to script as strings in  a  global  table  named  arg.   If  no  options  or
       arguments  are  given,  then  -v  -i  is  assumed  when the standard input is a terminal; otherwise, - is
       assumed.

       In interactive mode, lua prompts the user, reads lines from the standard input, and executes them as they
       are  read.  If the line contains an expression or list of expressions, then the line is evaluated and the
       results are printed.  If a line does not contain  a  complete  statement,  then  a  secondary  prompt  is
       displayed and lines are read until a complete statement is formed or a syntax error is found.

       At  the  very  start,  before  even handling the command line, lua checks the contents of the environment
       variables LUA_INIT_5_3 or LUA_INIT, in that order.  If the contents is  of  the  form  '@filename',  then
       filename is executed.  Otherwise, the string is assumed to be a Lua statement and is executed.

OPTIONS

       -e stat
              execute statement stat.

       -i     enter interactive mode after executing script.

       -l name
              execute the equivalent of name=require('name') before executing script.

       -v     show version information.

       -E     ignore environment variables.

       --     stop handling options.

       -      stop handling options and execute the standard input as a file.

SEE ALSO

       luac(1)
       The documentation at lua.org, especially section 7 of the reference manual.

DIAGNOSTICS

       Error messages should be self explanatory.

AUTHORS

       R. Ierusalimschy, L. H. de Figueiredo, W. Celes

                                          $Date: 2014/12/10 15:55:45 $                                 LUA5.3(1)