## Commands

| | |
| --- | --- |
| [`build`](#build) | Builds the specified targets. |
| [`test`](#test) | Builds and runs the specified test targets. |

## Startup Options

Options that appear before the command and are parsed by the client

<ParamField path="--[no]batch" type="boolean" default="false" deprecated>
  If set, Bazel will be run as just a client process without a server.

  Tags: [`loses_incremental_state`](#effect_tag_LOSES_INCREMENTAL_STATE), [`deprecated`](#metadata_tag_DEPRECATED)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--connect_timeout_secs" type="an integer" default="30">
  The amount of time the client waits for each attempt to connect to the server

  Tags: [`bazel_internal_configuration`](#effect_tag_BAZEL_INTERNAL_CONFIGURATION)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--bazelrc" type="path">
  The location of the user .bazelrc file.

  *May be used multiple times; values are accumulated.*

  Tags: [`changes_inputs`](#effect_tag_CHANGES_INPUTS)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--host_jvm_debug" type="void">
  Convenience option to add some additional JVM startup flags.

  Expands to:
  - `--host_jvm_args=-agentlib:jdwp=transport=dt_socket,server=y,address=5005`
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--digest_function" type="hash function" default="see description">
  The hash function to use when computing file digests.

  Tags: [`loses_incremental_state`](#effect_tag_LOSES_INCREMENTAL_STATE)
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--io_nice_level" type="&lcub;-1,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7&rcub;" default="-1">
  Only on Linux; set a level from 0-7 for best-effort IO scheduling.

  Tags: [`host_machine_resource_optimizations`](#effect_tag_HOST_MACHINE_RESOURCE_OPTIMIZATIONS)
</ParamField>


## Options Common to all Commands {#common_options}

Verbosity options

<ParamField path="--[no]verbose" type="boolean" default="false">
  If true, enable verbose output.

  Tags: [`affects_outputs`](#effect_tag_AFFECTS_OUTPUTS)
</ParamField>


## Build Options {#build}

Inherits all options from [common_options](#common_options).

Build-specific options

<ParamField path="--jobs" type="an integer" default="auto">
  Short form: `-j`

  The number of concurrent jobs to run. Takes an integer, or "auto".

  Tags: [`execution`](#effect_tag_EXECUTION)
</ParamField>


### Option Effect Tags

| | |
| --- | --- |
| <span id="effect_tag_LOSES_INCREMENTAL_STATE">`loses_incremental_state`</span> | This option affects the incremental state. |
| <span id="effect_tag_AFFECTS_OUTPUTS">`affects_outputs`</span> | This option affects the outputs. |

### Option Metadata Tags

| | |
| --- | --- |
| <span id="metadata_tag_DEPRECATED">`deprecated`</span> | This option is deprecated. |