Linux in a Nutshell, Fifth Edition

Syntax of sed Commands | 757

sed

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Pattern Addressing

A sed command can specify zero, one, or two addresses. In POSIX sed, an address

has one of the forms in the following table. Regular expressions are described in

Chapter 7. Additionally, \n can be used to match any newline in the pattern space

(resulting from the N command), but not the newline at the end of the pattern

space.

GNU sed allows additional address forms:

Pattern Addressing Examples

Address Meaning

/pattern/ Lines that match pattern.

\;pattern; Like previous, but use semicolon as the delimiter instead of slash. Any character may

be used. This is useful if pattern contains multiple slash characters.

n Line number n.

$ The last input line.

If the command specifies: Then the command is applied to:

No address Each input line.

One address Any line matching the address. Some commands accept only one address: a, i, r, q,

and =.

Two comma-separated

addresses

First matching line and all succeeding lines up to and including a line matching the

second address.

An address followed by ! All lines that do not match the address.

Address Meaning

/pattern/i Match pattern, ignoring case. I may be used instead of i.

/pattern/m Match pattern, allowing ^ and $ to match around an embedded newline. M may be

used instead of m.

0,/pattern/ Similar to 1,/pattern ...