---
name: "csplit"
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/csplit"
---

# csplit(1)

split a file into sections determined by context lines

## NAME

csplit - split a file into sections determined by context lines

## SYNOPSIS

**csplit** \[*OPTION*\]... *FILE PATTERN*...

## DESCRIPTION

Output pieces of FILE separated by PATTERN(s) to files 'xx00', 'xx01', ..., and output byte counts of each piece to standard output.

Read standard input if FILE is -

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

- **-b, --suffix-format=FORMAT**

  use sprintf FORMAT instead of %02d

- **-f, --prefix=PREFIX**

  use PREFIX instead of 'xx'

- **-k, --keep-files**

  do not remove output files on errors

- **--suppress-matched**

  suppress the lines matching PATTERN

- **-n, --digits=DIGITS**

  use specified number of digits instead of 2

- **-s, --quiet, --silent**

  do not print counts of output file sizes

- **-z, --elide-empty-files**

  suppress empty output files

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

### Each PATTERN may be:

- INTEGER

  copy up to but not including specified line number

- /REGEXP/\[OFFSET\]

  copy up to but not including a matching line

- %REGEXP%\[OFFSET\]

  skip to, but not including a matching line

- {INTEGER}

  repeat the previous pattern specified number of times

- {\*}

  repeat the previous pattern as many times as possible

A line OFFSET is an integer optionally preceded by '+' or '-'

## AUTHOR

Written by Stuart Kemp and David MacKenzie.

## 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/csplit\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) csplit invocation'