NAME

echo − echo arguments

SYNOPSIS

/bin/echo [ arg ] ... 

DESCRIPTION

echo writes its arguments separated by blanks and terminated by a new-line on the standard output.  It also understands C-like escape conventions; beware of conflicts with the shell’s use of \:

\b backspace

\c print line without new-line

\f form-feed

\n new-line

\r carriage return

\t tab

\v vertical tab

\\ backslash

\0n where n is the 8-bit character whose ASCII code is the 1-, 2- or 3-digit octal number representing that character. 

echo is useful for producing diagnostics in command files and for sending known data into a pipe. 

SEE ALSO

sh(1), csh(1)

CAVEATS

When representing an 8-bit character by using the escape convention \0n, the n must always be preceded by the digit zero (0).  For example, typing: echo ´WARNING:\07´ will print the phrase WARNING: and sound the “bell” on your terminal.  The use of single (or double) quotes (or two backslashes) is required to protect the “\” that precedes the “07”.  For the octal equivalents of each character, see ascii(5).

WARNING

echo is a built-in command to both sh(1) and csh(1) and the syntax varies.

September 02, 1992