Use cat to display or combine whole files, head to inspect the beginning, and tail to inspect the end or watch new output as it appears. These commands show or stream content; they do not edit, move, or delete files.
Which command should you use?
| Command | What it displays | GNU default | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
cat |
All supplied input; can display several files in sequence | All input | cat notes.txt |
head |
The beginning of a file | First 10 lines | head -n 5 notes.txt |
tail |
The end of a file, or new content as it is appended | Last 10 lines | tail -n 20 notes.txt |
The defaults in this table are those documented for GNU Coreutils 9.11; other Unix-like systems may use different options or behavior. See the GNU cat manual and the GNU head and GNU tail manuals for details.
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Display a whole file with cat
Run cat followed by a filename to write the file’s contents to standard output, which normally appears in your terminal:
cat notes.txtWith multiple filenames, cat writes their contents one after another:
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cat part1.txt part2.txtIt does not add a separator between files. If the first file does not end with a newline, the next file’s content can begin on the same displayed line. Use cat for short files or when you intentionally want to combine input streams; for a long file, showing only a portion with head or tail is usually easier to inspect.
With no filename, or with - as an input name, GNU cat reads standard input. For example, some-command | cat passes that command’s output through to the terminal.
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Useful GNU cat display options
cat -n notes.txtnumbers every output line.cat -b notes.txtnumbers nonempty lines.cat -E notes.txtmarks line endings.cat -T notes.txtmakes tab characters visible.cat -v notes.txtdisplays many nonprinting characters in a visible form.cat -s notes.txtsqueezes repeated adjacent blank lines into one.
These options affect what is shown, not the contents saved in the file.
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Use head when you want a quick look at the first lines, such as the opening of a text file or log:
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head notes.txtGNU head displays the first 10 lines by default. Specify a different line count with -n:
head -n 5 notes.txtThis prints up to the first five lines. When given multiple filenames, GNU head prints a heading identifying each input file.
Inspect the ending or follow updates with tail
Use tail to see the most recent lines at the end of a file:
tail notes.txtGNU tail shows the last 10 lines by default. To request more or fewer, use -n:
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tail -n 20 notes.txtTo keep displaying content as it is appended, use follow mode:
tail -f /var/log/example.logThis is useful for observing a log while another process writes to it. Stop the running command with Ctrl+C. Follow behavior and available options can vary by implementation; consult the manual installed on your system if the file is replaced or rotated and you need specific follow behavior. With multiple input files, GNU tail prints a heading identifying each one.
Do these commands manage or change files?
In this context, “manage” means inspect or stream file contents. cat, head, and tail write output; they are not substitutes for an editor and do not provide general file operations such as copying, moving, or deleting. The GNU Coreutils basic operations documentation treats those operations separately from displaying whole files or parts of files.
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The examples use common GNU forms, but Linux distributions and other Unix-like systems may ship different implementations. If an option is rejected or behaves differently, check the local manual pages with man cat, man head, or man tail. The Debian Bookworm cat(1) manual is one example of distribution-specific documentation.
Quick Recap
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