Linux in a Nutshell, 6th Edition

Name

head

Synopsis

head [options] [files]

Print the first few lines (default is 10) of one or more files to standard output. If files is missing or -, read from standard input. With more than one file, print a header for each file showing the filename.

Options

-c num[b|k|m], --bytes num[b|k|m]

Print first num bytes or, if num is followed by b, k, or m, first num 512-byte blocks, 1-kilobyte blocks, or 1-megabyte blocks.

--help

Display help and then exit.

-n num, --lines num, -num

Print first num lines. Default is 10.

-q, --quiet, --silent

Quiet mode; never print headers giving filenames.

-v, --verbose

Print filename headers, even for only one file.

--version

Output version information and then exit.

Examples

Display the first 20 lines of phone_list:

head −20 phone_list

Display the first 10 phone numbers having a 202 area code:

grep '(202)' phone_list | head