NAME

comm − select or reject lines common to two sorted files

SYNOPSIS

comm [ − [ 123 ] ] file1 file2

DESCRIPTION

Comm reads file1 and file2, which should be ordered in ASCII collating sequence, and produces a three column output: lines only in file1; lines only in file2; and lines in both files.  The filename ’−’ means the standard input for file 1 (or file 2). 

Flags 1, 2, or 3 suppress printing of the corresponding column. 

EXAMPLES

comm -12 filea fileb

prints only the lines common to filea and fileb. 

comm -23 filea fileb

prints only lines in the first file but not in the second. 

comm -123 filea fileb

is not an option, as it suppresses all output. 

comm -3 filea fileb

prints only the lines that differ in the two files. 

SEE ALSO

cmp(1), diff(1)

7th Edition  —  1/6/82