---
name: "cksum"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cksum"
---

# cksum(1)

compute and verify file checksums

## NAME

cksum - compute and verify file checksums

## SYNOPSIS

**cksum** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*FILE*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Print or verify checksums. By default use the 32 bit CRC algorithm.

With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

- **-a, --algorithm=TYPE**

  select the digest type to use.  See DIGEST below

- **--base64**

  emit base64-encoded digests, not hexadecimal

- **-c, --check**

  read checksums from the FILEs and check them

- **-l, --length=BITS**

  digest length in bits; must not exceed the max size and must be a multiple of 8 for blake2b; must be 224, 256, 384, or 512 for sha2 or sha3

- **--raw**

  emit a raw binary digest, not hexadecimal

- **--tag**

  create a BSD-style checksum (the default)

- **--untagged**

  create a reversed style checksum, without digest type

- **-z, --zero**

  end each output line with NUL, not newline, and disable file name escaping

### The following five options are useful only when verifying checksums:

- **--ignore-missing**

  don't fail or report status for missing files

- **--quiet**

  don't print OK for each successfully verified file

- **--status**

  don't output anything, status code shows success

- **--strict**

  exit non-zero for improperly formatted checksum lines

- **-w, --warn**

  warn about improperly formatted checksum lines

- **--debug**

  indicate which implementation used

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

### DIGEST determines the digest algorithm and default output format:

- sysv

  (equivalent to sum **-s**)

- bsd

  (equivalent to sum **-r**)

- crc

  (equivalent to cksum)

- crc32b

  (only available through cksum)

- md5

  (equivalent to md5sum)

- sha1

  (equivalent to sha1sum)

- sha2

  (equivalent to sha{224,256,384,512}sum)

- sha3

  (only available through cksum)

- blake2b

  (equivalent to b2sum)

- sm3

  (only available through cksum)

When checking, the input should be a former output of this program, or equivalent standalone program.

## AUTHOR

Written by Padraig Brady and Q. Frank Xia.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cksum\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cksum invocation'