---
name: "bsdcat"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libarchive"
version: "3.8.11-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bsdcat"
---

# bsdcat(1)

expand files to standard output

## NAME

**bsdcat** – expand files to standard output

## SYNOPSIS

**bsdcat** \[options\] \[files\]

## DESCRIPTION

**bsdcat** expands files to standard output.

## OPTIONS

**bsdcat** typically takes a filename as an argument or reads standard input when used in a pipe. In both cases decompressed data is written to standard output.

## EXAMPLES

To decompress a file:

```
bsdcat example.txt.gz > example.txt
```

To decompress standard input in a pipe:

```
cat example.txt.gz | bsdcat > example.txt
```

Both examples achieve the same results - a decompressed file by redirecting output.

## SEE ALSO

[bzcat(1)](/bzcat/1.md), [uncompress(1)](/uncompress/1.md), [xzcat(1)](/xzcat/1.md), [zcat(1)](/zcat/1.md), [libarchive-formats(5)](/libarchive-formats/5.md)