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cat

file managementLinux/Unix
The cat command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. cat Concatenate and display files
See ExamplesView Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

cat

Category:

file management

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

cat filename.txt

Common Use Cases

  • 1

    File viewing

    Display contents of text files in the terminal

  • 2

    File concatenation

    Combine multiple files into a single output

  • 3

    Data inspection

    Quickly inspect file contents without editing

  • 4

    Script input

    Provide file contents as input to other commands

Syntax

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

Options

Option Description
-n Number all output lines
-b Number non-empty output lines
-A Show all non-printable characters
-s Suppress repeated empty output lines
-T Display tab characters as ^I
-v Show non-printing characters using ^ and M- notation

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the cat command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

Basic Examples:

cat filename.txt
Display the contents of a file.
cat file1.txt file2.txt
Concatenate and display multiple files.
cat -n filename.txt
Display file contents with line numbers.

Advanced Examples:

cat > newfile.txt
Create a new file and write content to it. 
cat file1.txt file2.txt > combined.txt
Combine multiple files into a new file. 
cat file3.txt >> combined.txt
Append content to an existing file. 
cat -A filename.txt
Display non-printing characters.

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

These are sample notes for the cat command.

Common Use Cases

File viewing

Display contents of text files in the terminal

File concatenation

Combine multiple files into a single output

Data inspection

Quickly inspect file contents without editing

Script input

Provide file contents as input to other commands

Content verification

Verify file contents and check for specific data

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside cat or serve similar purposes:

grep
head
tail
less
more
tac
tee
Explore All Commands

Use Cases

1

File viewing

Display contents of text files in the terminal

2

File concatenation

Combine multiple files into a single output

3

Data inspection

Quickly inspect file contents without editing

4

Script input

Provide file contents as input to other commands

5

Content verification

Verify file contents and check for specific data

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the cat command works in different scenarios.

See ExamplesTry Lab Exercises
$ cat
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