---
name: "bomstrip"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "bomstrip"
version: "9-17"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bomstrip"
---

# bomstrip(1)

strip the BOM sequence from UTF-8 files

## NAME

**bomstrip**, **bomstrip-files** – strip the BOM sequence from UTF-8 files

## SYNOPSIS

**bomstrip**

**bomstrip-files** *file ...*

## DESCRIPTION

The **bomstrip** utility reads UTF-8 data from its standard input and copies it to its standard output, stripping the BOM (byte-order mark) from the beginning of the text if it is present. There are no command-line options and no parameters.

The **bomstrip-files** utility removes the UTF-8 BOM from the specified files, saving each file's original contents with a *.bom* extension. It uses the **bomstrip** utility, trying to execute it as “**bomstrip**”; if the **bomstrip** utility is installed under another name, or if a more complex command is desired, it may be supplied in the BOMSTRIP environment variable.

## EXAMPLES

Strip the BOM, if present, from a text file:

```
bomstrip < bom.txt > nobom.txt
```

Strip the BOM, if present, from all text files, backing them up with a *.bom* extension:

```
bomstrip-files *.txt
```

Use the OCAML implementation of **bomstrip**:

```
env BOMSTRIP='ocaml bomstrip.ocaml' bomstrip-files *.txt
```

## SEE ALSO

The **bomstrip** home page: https://www.ueber.net/who/mjl/projects/bomstrip/

## HISTORY

The **bomstrip** utility (in many languages) was written by Mechiel Lukkien, with implementations in various languages sent to him by others, including Andreas Gohr, Andrew Gerrand, Berteun Damman, Matthijs Bomhoff, Peter Pentchev, and Ruben Smelik. The **bomstrip-files** utility and this manual page were written by Peter Pentchev in the hope that they reflect the behavior of all the **bomstrip** implementations in all languages.

## AUTHORS

Mechiel Lukkien ⟨mechiel@ueber.net⟩ Peter Pentchev ⟨roam@ringlet.net⟩