# SQLcl host Command

Oracle [SQLcl](https://www.oracle.com/ca-en/database/sqldeveloper/technologies/sqlcl/) is the command line tool to connect to an Oracle database. One neat feature it has is the ability to call host commands (i.e call terminal commands directly from SQLcl). You can use any of the following to trigger a host command:

```sql
host
ho
!
```

Examples:

```sql
sql /nolog

-- Full command name
SQL> host ls
dist		README.md	src

-- Short name
SQL> ho ls
dist		README.md	src

-- Really short name: (optional space between ! and the command you want to run)
SQL> !ls
dist		README.md	src
```

Personally I like using the shortcut `!` reference as it’s very quick to write when doing a lot of scripting.

The `host` command can be really useful is when working with the new SQLcl CI/CD tool [Projects](https://docs.oracle.com/en/database/oracle/sql-developer-command-line/25.1/sqcug/database-application-ci-cd.html). You can quickly see the status of the git repo using `!git status` rather than having to exit SQLcl, run the command, then go back into SQLcl.