Text processing

Linux cat command

Print file contents to the terminal or join multiple files together.

Availability: Common Linux commands; shell built-ins and external implementations may differ by distribution.中文

Syntax

cat [OPTION]... [FILE]...

Examples

Write the contents of a text file to standard output.

cat README.md

Display a configuration file with line numbers.

cat -n config.conf

Parameters, options and clauses

Option / clause	Description
`-n, --number`	Number all output lines.
`-b, --number-nonblank`	Number nonblank output lines.
`-s, --squeeze-blank`	Suppress repeated empty output lines.
`-A, --show-all`	Show nonprinting characters, equivalent to -vET.
`-E, --show-ends`	Display $ at the end of each line.
`-T, --show-tabs`	Display tab characters as ^I.

Safety note

Review a command and its target before running it. Commands that alter files, services, accounts, disks, permissions or databases may be difficult to reverse. Test in a safe environment and keep backups.

Official reference ↗Back to directory