---
name: "fold"
section: "1"
platform: "macos"
package: "text_cmds"
version: "199"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/fold"
---

# fold(1)

fold long lines for finite width output device

## NAME

**fold** – fold long lines for finite width output device

## SYNOPSIS

**fold** \[**-bs**\] \[**-w** *width*\] \[*file ...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **fold** utility is a filter which folds the contents of the specified files, or the standard input if no files are specified, breaking the lines to have a maximum of 80 columns.

The options are as follows:

- **-b**

  Count *width* in bytes rather than column positions.

- **-s**

  Fold line after the last blank character within the first *width* column positions (or bytes).

- **-w** *width*

  Specify a line width to use instead of the default 80 columns. The *width* value should be a multiple of 8 if tabs are present, or the tabs should be expanded using [expand(1)](/expand/1.md) before using **fold**.

## ENVIRONMENT

The LANG, LC\_ALL and LC\_CTYPE environment variables affect the execution of **fold** as described in [environ(7)](/environ/7.md).

## EXAMPLES

Fold text in standard input with a width of 20 columns:

```
$ echo "I am smart enough to know that I am dumb" | fold -w 15
I am smart enou
gh to know that
 I am dumb
```

Same as above but breaking lines after the last blank character:

```
$ echo "I am smart enough to know that I am dumb" | fold -s -w 15
I am smart
enough to know
that I am dumb
```

## SEE ALSO

[expand(1)](/expand/1.md), [fmt(1)](/fmt/1.md)

## STANDARDS

The **fold** utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 (“POSIX.1”).

## HISTORY

The **fold** utility first appeared in 1BSD. It was rewritten for 4.3BSD-Reno to improve speed and modernize style. The **-b** and **-s** options were added to NetBSD 1.0 for IEEE Std 1003.2 (“POSIX.2”) compliance.

## AUTHORS

Bill Joy wrote the original version of **fold** on June 28, 1977. Kevin Ruddy rewrote the command in 1990, and J. T. Conklin added the missing options in 1993.

## BUGS

If underlining (see [ul(1)](/ul/1.md)) is present it may be messed up by folding.