The /etc/motd is a file on Unix-like

Unix-like

A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....

 systems that contains a "message of the day", used to send a common message to all users, in a more efficient manner than sending them all an e-mail

E-mail

Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...

 message.

Usage

The contents of the file /etc

Unix directory structure

In Unix and Unix-like operating systems, the Unix directory structure is a convention for filesystem layout.Several attempts exist to standardize the Unix filesystem layout, such as the "Filesystem Hierarchy Standard," however, it is targeted primarily at Linux...

/motd are displayed by the Unix login

Login

Login is the method whereby a user obtains access to a computer system.Login may also refer to:*Magazines:** LOGiN, published by Enterbrain** ;login:, published by USENIX* Login, Carmarthenshire, an hamlet in Carmarthenshire...

 command after a successful login, and just before it executes the login shell

Shell (computing)

A shell is a piece of software that provides an interface for users of an operating system which provides access to the services of a kernel. However, the term is also applied very loosely to applications and may include any software that is "built around" a particular component, such as web...

.

The MOTD has also become a common feature of the online component of Windows PC

Personal computer

A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...

 games, such as Half-Life

Half-Life

Half-Life is a science fiction first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation, the company's debut product and the first in the Half-Life series. First released by Sierra Studios, the game was also released for the PlayStation 2. In Half-Life, players assume the role of Dr...

, Call of Duty

Call of Duty

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in 2003. It is the first game in a series with the same name. The game simulates the infantry and combined arms warfare of World War II. The game is based on the Quake III: Team Arena engine...

, and Battlefield. A similar feature called MOTD is displayed when logging on to some IRC servers.

Format

• It is a simple text file.
• Some interpreters have a limit of 255 or 1024 characters.