--- layout: documentation title: Command-Line Reference ---

Command-Line Reference

bazel [<startup options>] <command> [<args>]
or
bazel [<startup options>] <command> [<args>] -- [<target patterns>]
See the User's Guide for the target patterns syntax.

Option Syntax

Options can be passed to Bazel in different ways. Options that require a value can be passed with either an equals sign or a space:

--<option>=<value>
--<option> <value>
Some options have a single character short form; in that case, the short form has to be passed with a single dash and a space.
-<short_form> <value>

Boolean options can be enabled as follows:

--<option>
--<option>=[true|yes|1]
and disabled as follows:
--no<option>
--<option>=[false|no|0]

Tristate options are usually set to automatic by default, and can be force-enabled as follows:

--<option>=[true|yes|1]
or force-disabled as follows:
--no<option>
--<option>=[false|no|0]