How to define a function that handles `command not found`?

Question

I'd like to define a function that is called, whenever a shell-user types a command that does not exist. In my case I'd like to log the errors and try alternative commands.

currently, when typing e.g. dgfgsdjagfghsdg the error zsh: command not found: dgfgsdjagfghsdg is shown.

Is there a way to define a function, that get the typed command (+ arguments) as a parameter?

for example & for reference, here's a bash/zsh handler that prints out a random insult whenever the user types in a command that does not exist: https://github.com/hkbakke/bash-insulter — michael, Feb 17 '21 at 07:36

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:36

6

Yes.

In the Z shell it is a function named command_not_found_handler.
In the Bourne Again shell it is a function named command_not_found_handle.

How to define a function that handles `command not found`?

2 Answers2

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