# wait

## Synopsis

```perl
my $pid = wait();
print "Child $pid exited with status $?\n";
```

## Description

Waits for any child process to terminate.

Suspends the current process until any child process terminates.
Returns the PID of the deceased child, or `-1` if there are no
child processes.  Sets `$?` to the wait status of the child
(encoding exit code and signal information).

## See also

waitpid, fork, `$?`