What is head and tail in Linux?

The head command command prints lines from the beginning of a file (the head), and the tail command prints lines from the end of files.

What is head and tail command in Linux?

Introduction to the head and the tail Commands



They are, by default, installed in all Linux distributions. As their names imply, the head command will output the first part of the file, while the tail command will print the last part of the file. Both commands write the result to standard output.

What does head mean in Linux?

The head command, as the name implies, print the top N number of data of the given input. By default, it prints the first 10 lines of the specified files.

What does tail do in Linux?

The tail command shows you data from the end of a file. Usually, new data is added to the end of a file, so the tail command is a quick and easy way to see the most recent additions to a file. It can also monitor a file and display each new text entry to that file as they occur.

How do I get the first 10 lines in Linux?

To look at the first few lines of a file, type head filename, where filename is the name of the file you want to look at, and then press . By default, head shows you the first 10 lines of a file. You can change this by typing head -number filename, where number is the number of lines you want to see.

Is head tail will show?

Two of those commands are Head and Tail. … The simplest definition of Head would be to display the first X number of lines in the file. And the Tail displays the last X number of lines in the file. By default, the head and tail commands will display the first or last 10 lines from the file.

What is the meaning of head or tail?

1 : this side or that side —often used in plural in tossing a coin to decide a choice, question, or stake — compare heads or tails. 2 : beginning or end : one thing or another : something definite could not make head or tail of what he said.

Which is head and tail in coin?

Parts of a Coin



The front side (“heads”) of a coin. The back side (“tails”) of a coin.

How do you use head?

How to Use the Head Command

1. Enter the head command, followed by the file of which you’d like to view: head /var/log/auth.log. …
2. To change the number of lines displayed, use the -n option: head -n 50 /var/log/auth.log.

What is the use of head command in Linux?

The head command writes to standard output a specified number of lines or bytes of each of the specified files, or of the standard input. If no flag is specified with the head command, the first 10 lines are displayed by default. The File parameter specifies the names of the input files.