cat
cat [options] [files]
Read (concatenate) one or more files and print them on standard output. Read standard input if no files are specified or if - is specified as one of the files; input ends with EOF. You can use the > operator to combine several files into a new file, or >> to append files to an existing file. When appending to an existing file, use Ctrl-D, the end-of-file symbol, to end the session.
| Options | |
| -A, --show-all | Same as -vET. |
| -b, --number-nonblank | Number all nonblank output lines, starting with 1. |
| -e | Same as -vE. |
| -E, --show-ends |
Print $ at the end of each line. |
| -n, --number |
Number all output lines, starting with 1. |
| -s, --squeeze-blank |
Squeeze down multiple blank lines to one blank line. |
| -t |
Same as -vT. |
| -T, --show-tabs |
Print TAB characters as ^I. |
| -u |
Ignored; retained for Unix compatibility. |
| -v, --show-nonprinting |
Display control and nonprinting characters, with the exception of LINEFEED and TAB. |
Examples
cat ch1 Display a file cat ch1 ch2 ch3 > all Combine files cat note5 >> notes Append to a file cat > temp1 Create file at terminal. To exit, enter EOF (Ctrl-D). cat > temp2 << STOP Create file at terminal. To exit, enter STOP.
