cat - Concatenate and print files
Synopsis
cat [-bcensStuv] [-] [file ...]
Description
The cat utility reads the specified files sequentially, writing them to standard output. The file operands are processed in command line order. A single dash represents standard input.
By default, cat reads file as text data so the data is translated from the CCSID of the file. When the -c option is specified, cat reads the file as binary data.
Note
that because of the shell language mechanism used to perform output redirection,
the command cat file1 file2 > file2 will
cause the original data in file2 to be destroyed. Also, the process will go
into an infinite loop.
Options
- -b
- Number the output lines but do not number blank lines.
- -c
- Do not convert the data as it is read.
- -e
- Number the output lines and display a dollar sign ($) at the end of each line as well.
- -n
- Number the output lines, starting at 1.
- -s
- Squeeze multiple adjacent empty lines, causing the output to be single spaced.
- -S
- Squeeze multiple adjacent empty lines, causing the output to be single spaced.
- -t
- Display non-printing characters so they are visible like the -v option and display tab characters as well.
- -u
- Guarantee that the output is unbuffered.
- -v
- Display non-printing characters so they are visible. A control character prints as "^X" (for control). The delete character prints as "^?". A non-display character prints as "M-x" (for meta). Note that in most locales, all of the characters are displayable.
Exit status
- 0 when successful.
- >0 when an error occurred.