Text processing

Linux cut command

Extract selected fields or character ranges from each input line.

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

Syntax

cut OPTION... [FILE]...

Examples

Print the first colon-separated field from each line.

cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd

Print characters 1 through 12 from each line.

cut -c1-12 names.txt

Parameters, options and clauses

Option / clause	Description
`-b, --bytes=LIST`	Select byte positions.
`-c, --characters=LIST`	Select character positions.
`-d, --delimiter=DELIM`	Use DELIM as the field delimiter (default tab).
`-f, --fields=LIST`	Select fields; requires delimiter-separated input.
`-s, --only-delimited`	Skip lines without the delimiter.
`--complement`	Select the complement of the chosen bytes, characters or fields.

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.

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