cat MacOS command

The cat command in MacOS is a convenient utility for displaying the contents of files, concatenating them, or creating new ones. It is versatile and easy to use, making it a essential tool for working with text files in the terminal. By simply typing ‘cat’ followed by the file name(s), you can quickly view their contents. Additionally, you can combine multiple files into a single output, which can be redirected to a new file if needed. Its simplicity and effectiveness make it a valuable tool for any MacOS user.

cat Syntax:

cat [option] [file]

Options:

Option	Description
-b	Number non-blank output lines
-e	Display non-printing characters
-n	Number all output lines
-s	Squeeze multiple blank lines
-T	Display tabs as ^I

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
file	The file to display

Caution

Exercise caution when using the cat command on files, as it can display the content directly in the terminal and potentially overwhelm it with large files that have complex formatting.

cat bash Examples:

Concatenate two files and display the output

cat file1.txt file2.txt

Display the contents of a file with line numbers

cat -n file.txt

Output non-printing characters in a file using cat -vet

cat -vet file.txt

Display the first 10 lines of a file using cat and head

cat file.txt | head

Append the contents of one file to another

cat file1.txt >> file2.txt

Redirect cat output to a new file

cat file.txt > newfile.txt

Tip

When using the cat command in MacOS, always make sure to specify the correct file or input source to avoid accidentally overwriting important files. Additionally, take advantage of the various options available to customize the output according to your needs.

How do I use cat in MacOS?

To use the cat command in MacOS, execute the following command:

cat filename.txt

How can I display line numbers with cat in MacOS?

To display line numbers with the cat command in MacOS, use the -n option like this:

cat -n filename.txt

How can I combine multiple files and display the output with cat in MacOS?

To combine multiple files and display the output with the cat command in MacOS, simply list the files you want to combine like this:

cat file1.txt file2.txt

How do I create a new file using cat in MacOS?

To create a new file using the cat command in MacOS, use the following command and then type the content you want in the new file:

cat > newfile.txt

How can I display non-printing characters with cat in MacOS?

To display non-printing characters with the cat command in MacOS, use the -v option like this:

cat -v filename.txt

How do I append the content of a file to another file using cat in MacOS?

To append the content of a file to another file using the cat command in MacOS, use the double greater than symbol (>>) like this:

cat file1.txt >> file2.txt

How can I view the beginning of a file with cat in MacOS?

To view the beginning of a file with the cat command in MacOS, use the head command in combination with cat like this:

cat filename.txt | head

How do I display the contents of a file with line breaks in a single line using cat in MacOS?

To display the contents of a file with line breaks in a single line using the cat command in MacOS, use the -s option like this:

cat -s filename.txt

Applications of the cat command

• Display the contents of a file on the terminal
• Concatenate and display multiple files
• Create new files
• Append content to existing files
• Redirect output to a new file
• Create file backups
• View and create text files
• Print file contents with line numbers