cat(C)                          19 June 1992                          cat(C)


 Name

    cat - concatenates and displays files

 Syntax

    cat [ -u ] [ -s ] [ -v ] [ -t ] [ -e ] file ...

 Description

    cat reads each file in sequence and writes it on the standard output.  If
    no input file is given, or if a single dash (-) is given, cat reads from
    the standard input.  The options are:

    -s  Suppresses warnings about nonexistent files.

    -u  Causes the output to be unbuffered.

    -v  Causes non-printing characters (with the exception of tabs, newlines,
        and form feeds) to be displayed.  Control characters are displayed as
        ^X (<Ctrl>x), where X is the key pressed with the <Ctrl> key (for
        example, <Ctrl>m is displayed as ^M).  The <Del> character (octal
        0177) is printed as ^?.  Non-ASCII characters (with the high bit set)
        are printed as M -x, where x is the character specified by the seven
        low order bits.

    -t  Causes tabs to be printed as ^I and form feeds as ^L.  This option is
        ignored if the -v option is not specified.

    -e  Causes a ``$'' character to be printed at the end of each line (prior
        to the new-line).  This option is ignored if the -v option is not
        set.

    No input file may have the same name as the output file unless it is a
    special file.

 Examples

    The following example displays file on the standard output:

       cat file

    The following example concatenates file1 and file2 and places the result
    in file3:

       cat file1 file2 >file3

    The following example concatenates file1 and appends it to file2:

       cat file1 >> file2


 See also

    cp(C), pr(C)

 Warning

    Command lines such as:

       cat file1 file2 > file1

    will cause the original data in file1 to be lost; therefore, you must be
    careful when using special shell characters.

 Standards conformance

    cat is conformant with:

    AT&T SVID Issue 2;
    and X/Open Portability Guide, Issue 3, 1989.