NAME
echo – write arguments to the standard output
SYNOPSIS
echo [-Een] [string ...]
DESCRIPTION
The echo utility writes any specified operands, separated by single blank (‘ ’) characters and followed by a newline (‘\n’) character, to the standard output.
When no operands are given, only the newline is written. The -- operand, which generally denotes an end to option processing, is treated as part of string.
The options are as follows:
- -E
-
Disable interpretation of backslash escape sequences (default).
- -e
-
Enable interpretation of the following backslash escape sequences:
- \\
-
A literal backslash.
- \a
-
Alert (BEL).
- \b
-
Backspace.
- \c
-
Suppress further output, including the trailing newline character.
- \e
-
Escape character.
- \f
-
Form feed.
- \n
-
Newline.
- \r
-
Carriage return.
- \t
-
Horizontal tab.
- \v
-
Vertical tab.
- \0nnn
-
The character whose octal value is nnn (zero to three octal digits).
- \xhh
-
The character whose hexadecimal value is hh (one or two hexadecimal digits).
- -n
-
Do not print the trailing newline character.
EXIT STATUS
The echo utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.
SEE ALSO
STANDARDS
The echo utility is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification.
The flags [-E], [-e], and [-n] conflict with the behaviour mandated by the X/Open System Interfaces option of the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification, which says they should be treated as part of string.
echo also exists as a built-in to csh(1) and ksh(1), though with a different syntax.
Where portability is paramount, use printf(1).
HISTORY
An echo utility appeared in Version 2 AT&T UNIX.