head(1) - NetBSD Manual Pages

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HEAD(1)                 NetBSD General Commands Manual                 HEAD(1)


NAME

     head -- display first lines of a file


SYNOPSIS

     head [-qv] [-n count] [-c byte_count] [file ...]


DESCRIPTION

     This filter displays the first count lines of each of the specified
     files, or of the standard input if no files are specified.  If count is
     omitted it defaults to 10.  If -c byte_count is specified, head counts
     bytes instead of lines.

     If more than a single file is specified, or the -v option is used, each
     file is preceded by a header consisting of the string ``==> XXX <==''
     where ``XXX'' is the name of the file.  The -q flag disables the printing
     of the header in all cases.

     The head utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.


COMPATIBILITY

     The historic command line syntax of head is supported by this implementa-
     tion.

     This command is mostly compatible with GNU extensions to head.


SEE ALSO

     tail(1)


STANDARDS

     The head utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (``POSIX.2'').


HISTORY

     The head utility appeared in 3.0BSD.  It was enhanced to include the -c,
     -q, and -v options for NetBSD 2.1.

NetBSD 5.2                        May 4, 2004                       NetBSD 5.2