(coreutils.info)head invocation

---

Next: tail invocation Up: Output of parts of files

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

5.1 `head': Output the first part of files
==========================================

`head' prints the first part (10 lines by default) of each FILE; it
reads from standard input if no files are given or when given a FILE of
`-'.  Synopsis:

     head [OPTION]... [FILE]...

   If more than one FILE is specified, `head' prints a one-line header
consisting of:

     ==> FILE NAME <==

before the output for each FILE.

   The program accepts the following options.  Also see Note: Common
options.

`-c N'
`--bytes=N'
     Print the first N bytes, instead of initial lines.  However, if N
     starts with a `-', print all but the last N bytes of each file.  N
     is a number which may have one of the following multiplicative
     suffixes:
          `b'  =>            512 ("blocks")
          `KB' =>           1000 (KiloBytes)
          `K'  =>           1024 (KibiBytes)
          `MB' =>      1000*1000 (MegaBytes)
          `M'  =>      1024*1024 (MebiBytes)
          `GB' => 1000*1000*1000 (GigaBytes)
          `G'  => 1024*1024*1024 (GibiBytes)
     and so on for `T', `P', `E', `Z', and `Y'.

`-n N'
`--lines=N'
     Output the first N lines.  However, if N starts with a `-', print
     all but the last N lines of each file.  Size multiplier suffixes
     are the same as with the `-c' option.

`-q'
`--quiet'
`--silent'
     Never print file name headers.

`-v'
`--verbose'
     Always print file name headers.


   For compatibility `head' also supports an obsolete option syntax
`-COUNTOPTIONS', which is recognized only if it is specified first.
COUNT is a decimal number optionally followed by a size letter (`b',
`k', `m') as in `-c', or `l' to mean count by lines, or other option
letters (`cqv').  Scripts intended for standard hosts should use `-c
COUNT' or `-n COUNT' instead.  If your script must also run on hosts
that support only the obsolete syntax, it is usually simpler to avoid
`head', e.g., by using `sed 5q' instead of `head -5'.

   An exit status of zero indicates success, and a nonzero value
indicates failure.