NAME

cat − concatenate and display

SYNOPSIS

cat [ −u ] [ −n ] [ −b ] [ −s ] [ −v ] [ −e ] [ −t ] [ − ] [ filename ... ]

SYSTEM V SYNOPSIS

cat [ −u ] [ −s ] [ −v ] [ −e ] [ −t ] [ − ] [ filename ... ]

DESCRIPTION

cat reads each file in sequence and displays it on the standard output.  Thus

% cat goodies

displays the contents of goodies on the standard output, and

% cat file1 file2 >file3

concatenates the first two files and places the result on the third. 

If no filename argument is given, or if the argument ‘−’ is given, cat reads from the standard input.  If the standard input is a terminal, input is terminated by an EOF signal, usually ^D. 

OPTIONS

−uUnbuffered.  If −u is not used, output is buffered in blocks, or line-buffered if standard output is a terminal. 

−nprecedes each line output with its line number. 

−bnumbers the lines, as −n, but omits the line numbers from blank lines. 

−ssubstitutes a single blank line for multiple adjacent blank lines. 

−vdisplays non-printing characters (with the exception of tabs and newlines) so that they are visible.  Control characters print like ^X for Control-X; the DEL character (octal 0177) prints as ^?.  Non-ASCII characters (with the high bit set) are displayed as M−x where M− stands for “meta” and x is the character specified by the seven low order bits. 

−edisplays non-printing characters, as −v, and in addition displays a $ character at the end of each line. 

−tdisplays non-printing characters, as −v, and in addition displays tab characters as ^I. 

SYSTEM V OPTIONS

−ssuppresses messages about files which can’t be opened. 

−vdisplays non-printing character (with the exception of tabs, newlines, and formfeeds) so that they are visible. 

−eif the −v option is specified, displays a $ character at the end of each line. 

−tif the −v option is specified, displays tab characters as ^I and formfeeds as ^L. 

SEE ALSO

cp(1), ex(1), more(1), pr(1V), pg(1V), tail(1)

BUGS

Beware of ‘cat a b >a’ and ‘cat a b >b’, which destroy the input files before reading them. 

Sun Release 3.2  —  Last change: 24 April 1986