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List of GNU Core Utilities commands
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<h2 id="list">List</h2> <h3>File Utilities</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Description</th></tr><tr><td>chcon</td><td>Changes file security context (<a href="/facts/SELinux/YcTycMEN">SELinux</a>)</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Chgrp/L1sDNa1r">chgrp</a></td><td>Changes file group ownership</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Chown/JPm7Xv6u">chown</a></td><td>Changes file ownership</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Chmod/aGRdWvvk">chmod</a></td><td>Changes the permissions of a file or directory</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Cp_(Unix)/T7n2B1Fg">cp</a></td><td>Copies a file or directory</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Dd_(Unix)/Ksttbob5">dd</a></td><td>Copies and converts a file</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Df_(Unix)/XYWlcgm9">df</a></td><td>Shows disk free space on file systems</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Ls/5GsH3v2a">dir</a></td><td>Is exactly like "ls -C -b". (Files are by default listed in columns and sorted vertically.)</td></tr><tr><td>dircolors</td><td>Set up color for ls</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Install_(Unix)/8FWxK28s">install</a></td><td>Copies files and set attributes</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Ln_(Unix)/Ioq2y31h">ln</a></td><td>Creates a link to a file</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Ls/5GsH3v2a">ls</a></td><td>Lists the files in a directory</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mkdir/YI42PsYJ">mkdir</a></td><td>Creates a directory</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mkfifo/g78xY9lC">mkfifo</a></td><td>Makes <a href="/facts/Named_pipe/g78xY9lC">named pipes</a> (FIFOs)</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mknod/t8ISnXft">mknod</a></td><td>Makes <a href="/facts/Device_node/t8ISnXft">block or character special files</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mktemp/SpSYMmql">mktemp</a></td><td>Creates a <a href="/facts/Temporary_file/5PRRodGA">temporary file</a> or directory</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Mv_(Unix)/BScugd1B">mv</a></td><td>Moves files or rename files</td></tr><tr><td>realpath</td><td>Returns the resolved absolute or relative path for a file</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Rm_(Unix)/FPB4Q2wM">rm</a></td><td>Removes (deletes) files, directories, device nodes and symbolic links</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Rmdir/1dMYlg6C">rmdir</a></td><td>Removes empty directories</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Shred_(Unix)/mef9N3VY">shred</a></td><td>Overwrites a file to hide its contents, and optionally deletes it</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Sync_(Unix)/adtIxczx">sync</a></td><td>Flushes file system buffers</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Touch_(command)/3yXqX9Aa">touch</a></td><td>Changes file timestamps; creates file</td></tr><tr><td>truncate</td><td>Shrink or extend the size of a file to the specified size</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Ls/5GsH3v2a">vdir</a></td><td>Is exactly like "ls -l -b". (Files are by default listed in long format.)</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Text Utilities</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Description</th></tr><tr><td>b2sum</td><td>Computes and checks <a href="/facts/BLAKE2b/3QuBJ24f">BLAKE2b</a> message digest</td></tr><tr><td>base32</td><td>Encodes or decodes <a href="/facts/Base32/JVDAnQyn">Base32</a>, and prints result to standard output</td></tr><tr><td>base64</td><td>Encodes or decodes <a href="/facts/Base64/xIvVm33q">Base64</a>, and prints result to standard output</td></tr><tr><td>basenc</td><td>Encodes or decodes various encodings like <a href="/facts/Hexadecimal/02ohQW22">Hexadecimal</a>, <a href="/facts/Base32/JVDAnQyn">Base32</a>, <a href="/facts/Base64/xIvVm33q">Base64</a>, Z85 etc., and prints result to standard output</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Cat_(Unix)/KQPATH6w">cat</a></td><td>Concatenates and prints files on the standard output</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Cksum/gQe72GRy">cksum</a></td><td>Checksums (IEEE Ethernet CRC-32) and count the bytes in a file.Supersedes other *sum utilities with -a option from version 9.0.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Comm/NvuxhDwE">comm</a></td><td>Compares two sorted files line by line</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Csplit/B2Em6ogs">csplit</a></td><td>Splits a file into sections determined by context lines</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Cut_(Unix)/M9qXNlAB">cut</a></td><td>Removes sections from each line of files</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Expand_(Unix)/vGf5qMkh">expand</a></td><td>Converts tabs to spaces</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Fmt_(Unix)/hQyYMDep">fmt</a></td><td>Simple optimal text formatter</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Fold_(Unix)/CPl4JycJ">fold</a></td><td>Wraps each input line to fit in specified width</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Head_(Unix)/VADCHJTV">head</a></td><td>Outputs the first part of files</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Join_(Unix)/bI2dS0dJ">join</a></td><td>Joins lines of two files on a common field</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Md5sum/sFdcl95s">md5sum</a></td><td>Computes and checks <a href="/facts/MD5/8WIXb9Dq">MD5</a> message digest</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Nl_(Unix)/6Hn7q0VD">nl</a></td><td>Numbers lines of files</td></tr><tr><td>numfmt</td><td>Reformat numbers</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Od_(Unix)/eS8QjQSD">od</a></td><td>Dumps files in octal and other formats</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Paste_(Unix)/pQbtMFVL">paste</a></td><td>Merges lines of files</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Ptx_(Unix)/U2njHrCb">ptx</a></td><td>Produces a <a href="/facts/Permuted_index/up740Rof">permuted index</a> of file contents</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Pr_(Unix)/Xwze4vfX">pr</a></td><td>Converts text files for printing</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Sha1sum/fXz93Wbg">sha1sum</a>,sha224sum,sha256sum,sha384sum,sha512sum</td><td>Computes and checks <a href="/facts/SHA-1/LDYCV1je">SHA-1</a>/<a href="/facts/SHA-2/P59oPeGq">SHA-2</a> message digests</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Shuf/NoaHT3sI">shuf</a></td><td>generate random permutations</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Sort_(Unix)/oa9wxsq2">sort</a></td><td>sort lines of text files</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Split_(Unix)/k0lPCYva">split</a></td><td>Splits a file into pieces</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Sum_(Unix)/BayJQ3xg">sum</a></td><td>Checksums and counts the blocks in a file</td></tr><tr><td>tac</td><td>Concatenates and prints files in reverse order line by line</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Tail_(Unix)/g6xRo1nd">tail</a></td><td>Outputs the last part of files</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Tr_(Unix)/Ev2SREmK">tr</a></td><td>Translates or deletes characters</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Tsort/TIkWzlnn">tsort</a></td><td>Performs a <a href="/facts/Topological_sort/VY7gNtYA">topological sort</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Unexpand/uJIAzdqr">unexpand</a></td><td>Converts spaces to tabs</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Uniq/jNKDdY7M">uniq</a></td><td>Removes duplicate lines from a sorted file</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Wc_(Unix)/XxRPj8b1">wc</a></td><td>Prints the number of bytes, words, and lines in files</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Shell Utilities</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th>Name</th><th>Description</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Uname/fx63hv3C">arch</a></td><td>Prints machine hardware name (same as uname -m)</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Basename/EwoA4aB3">basename</a></td><td>Removes the path prefix from a given pathname</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Chroot/o5423VpW">chroot</a></td><td>Changes the root directory</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Unix_time/d8Et1sa2">date</a></td><td>Prints or sets the system date and time</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Dirname/9hPPpb2a">dirname</a></td><td>Strips non-directory suffix from file name</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Du_(Unix)/ckVT5ceF">du</a></td><td>Shows disk usage on file systems</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Echo_(command)/ue5jH01X">echo</a></td><td>Displays a specified line of text</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Env/nsV24QVl">env</a></td><td>Displays and modifies <a href="/facts/Environment_variable/WxkrJQpP">environment variables</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Expr/QCIoHt60">expr</a></td><td>Evaluates expressions</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Factor_(Unix)/WK4tEevN">factor</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Integer_factorization/EjMCTz2t">Factors numbers</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/False_(Unix)/ju0HALI8">false</a></td><td>Does nothing, but exits unsuccessfully</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Groups_(Unix)/9PY9xUaE">groups</a></td><td>Prints the <a href="/facts/Group_identifier_(Unix)/23lndCN4">groups</a> of which the user is a member</td></tr><tr><td>hostid</td><td>Prints the numeric identifier for the current host</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Id_(Unix)/EEuIsUx9">id</a></td><td>Prints real or effective <a href="/facts/User_identifier/PurxNtA5">UID</a> and <a href="/facts/Group_identifier_(Unix)/23lndCN4">GID</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Link_(Unix)/0Y1Cb1Az">link</a></td><td>Creates a <a href="/facts/Hard_link/Twqdfvlt">link</a> to a file</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Logname/b0TXzaka">logname</a></td><td>Print the user's login name</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Nice_(Unix)/TRfCer6a">nice</a></td><td>Modifies <a href="/facts/Scheduling_(computing)/XptmcM1a">scheduling</a> priority</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Nohup/fAdxfMJm">nohup</a></td><td>Allows a command to continue running after logging out</td></tr><tr><td>nproc</td><td>Queries the number of (active) processors</td></tr><tr><td>pathchk</td><td>Checks whether file names are valid or portable</td></tr><tr><td>pinky</td><td>A lightweight version of <a href="/facts/Finger_protocol/5H803ane">finger</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Printenv/WxkrJQpP">printenv</a></td><td>Prints <a href="/facts/Environment_variable/WxkrJQpP">environment variables</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Printf/Sc6Czbp2">printf</a></td><td>Formats and prints data</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Pwd/D8NjW3nY">pwd</a></td><td>Prints the <a href="/facts/Current_working_directory/2qI00r0z">current working directory</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Readlink_(Unix)/EEuIsUx9">readlink</a></td><td>Displays value of a <a href="/facts/Symbolic_link/laB0S68t">symbolic link</a></td></tr><tr><td>runcon</td><td>Run command with specified security context</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Seq_(Unix)/jlRuc5t9">seq</a></td><td>Prints a sequence of numbers</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Sleep_(command)/pghbFcxl">sleep</a></td><td>Delays for a specified amount of time</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Stat_(system_call)/5DeWQJFS">stat</a></td><td>Returns data about an <a href="/facts/Inode/Ej7JIzyP">inode</a></td></tr><tr><td>stdbuf</td><td>Controls buffering for commands that use stdio</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Stty_(Unix)/EEuIsUx9">stty</a></td><td>Changes and prints terminal line settings</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Tee_(command)/EvXj51Sw">tee</a></td><td>Sends output to multiple files</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Test_(Unix)/r7uIjBmz">test</a></td><td>Evaluates an expression</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Timeout_(computing)/va8CczEQ">timeout</a></td><td>Run a command with a time limit</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/True_(Unix)/ju0HALI8">true</a></td><td>Does nothing, but exits successfully</td></tr><tr><td>tty</td><td>Prints <a href="/facts/Computer_terminal/fSlx05qV">terminal</a> name</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Uname/fx63hv3C">uname</a></td><td>Prints system information</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Unlink_(Unix)/YKat5WFM">unlink</a></td><td>Removes the specified file using the unlink function</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Uptime/7PXQlwEE">uptime</a></td><td>Tells how long the system has been running</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Users_(Unix)/3XnJumIz">users</a></td><td>Prints the user names of users currently logged into the current host</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Who_(Unix)/3XnJumIz">who</a></td><td>Prints a list of all users currently logged in</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Whoami/kTG7Cgzb">whoami</a></td><td>Prints the effective <a href="/facts/Userid/PurxNtA5">userid</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Yes_(Unix)/HnCWBrHv">yes</a></td><td>Prints a string repeatedly</td></tr><tr><td>[</td><td>A synonym for <a href="/facts/Test_(Unix)/r7uIjBmz">test</a>; this program permits expressions like [ <i>expression</i> ].</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/GNOME_Core_Applications/bC6GBU4G">GNOME Core Applications</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_GNU_packages/5JajRxQo">List of GNU packages</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_KDE_applications/PW6RokRK">List of KDE applications</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_POSIX_commands/EEuIsUx9">List of POSIX commands</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_Unix_daemons/EFxhNpfu">List of Unix daemons</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_web_browsers_for_Unix_and_Unix-like_operating_systems/ERkK7vWb">List of web browsers for Unix and Unix-like operating systems</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Unix_philosophy/U2WTavT0">Unix philosophy</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Util-linux/vPHnV2Iy">util-linux</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/coreutils.html">GNU Core Utilities homepage</a></li></ul> The Wikibook <i>Guide to UNIX</i> has a page on the topic of: <i>Commands</i> <ul><li><a href="https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/index.html">GNU Coreutils</a> - manual</li> <li><a href="http://bhami.com/rosetta.html">Rosetta Stone For *Nix</a> – configurable list of equivalent programs for *nix systems.</li> <li><a href="http://roesler-ac.de/wolfram/acro/index.htm">The Unix Acronym List</a> – explains the names of many Unix commands.</li> <li><a href="http://unix.org/">The UNIX System Homepage</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"README". <a href="https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/tree/README?h=v8.27#n8" target="_blank">https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/tree/README?h=v8.27#n8</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>