Cat Content of file(s) Linux Command

cat

cat [options] [files]

Description

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.

Reference : http://www.linuxdevcenter.com