NAME

head — print first part of files

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

head reads each file in sequence and writes it's first part on standard output. If no file is given, head reads from the standard input.

OPTIONS

-c size

Read the first size bytes in each file.

size can be multiplied by one of KMGTP (Kilo, Mega, Giga, Tera, ...) using power of 1024 by default, which can be either explicit via adding iB (like MiB), or turned into powers of 1000 by adding B (like MB).

-n [-]num, -num

Read the first num lines in each file.

If num is negative, then it is relative to end-of-file, for example head -n -2 will omit the last 2 lines.

The -num form is historical, new scripts should use the standard -n num form.

-q

Don't print header when multiple file are given.

-v

Always print header, regardless of the number of given file.

-z

Use NULL as line delimiter, not newline.

If no option is specified, head defaults to reading the first 10 lines.

EXIT STATUS

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

STDOUT

Contains the specified part of each file, with the following header when multiple file are given, or when -v is set:

"==> %s <==\n", <file>

STANDARDS

head should be compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2024 (“POSIX.1”) specification.

The -q, -v, and -z options are extensions. Negative values in option -n is a extension inspired by GNU coreutils.
The -num option is historical.

AUTHORS

Haelwenn (lanodan) Monnier <contact+utils@hacktivis.me>