# Command-Line Interface Basics

version 9.6.1

The command-line interface is the primary method of interacting with Gradle outside the IDE.

The Gradle CLI is the primary way to interact with a Gradle build from the terminal. You can use it to run tasks, inspect the build, manage dependencies, and control logging, all through flexible and powerful command-line options.

| Use of the Gradle Wrapper is highly encouraged. Substitute `./gradlew` (in macOS / Linux) or `gradlew.bat` (in Windows) for `gradle` in the following examples.

## Running commands

To execute Gradle commands, use the following simple structure:

    gradle [taskName...] [--option-name...]

You can specify one or more tasks separated by spaces.

    gradle [taskName1 taskName2...] [--option-name...]

For example, to run a task named `build`, simply type:

    gradle build

To `clean` first, and then `build`:

    gradle clean build

## Command-line options

Gradle commands can include various options to adjust their behavior. Options can appear before or after task names, like so:

    gradle [--option-name...] [taskName...]

For options that accept a value, use an equals sign (`=`) for clarity:

    gradle [...] --console=plain

Some options are toggles and have opposite forms. For instance, to enable or disable the build cache:

    gradle build --build-cache
    gradle build --no-build-cache

Gradle also provides short-option equivalents for convenience. The following two commands are equivalent:

    gradle --help
    gradle -h

## Executing tasks

In Gradle, tasks belong to specific projects. To clearly indicate which task you want to run, especially in multi-project builds, use a colon (`:`) as a project separator.

To execute a task named `test` at the root project level, use:

    gradle :test

For nested subprojects, specify the full path using colons:

    gradle :subproject:test

If you run a task without any colons, Gradle executes the task in the current directory’s project context:

    gradle test

## Task options

Some tasks accept their own specific options. Pass these options directly after the task name, prefixed with `--`.

Here’s how you can pass a custom option:

    gradle taskName --exampleOption=exampleValue

Next Step: Learn about the Settings file >>