---
name: "ntcard"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ntcard"
version: "1.2.2+dfsg-9"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ntcard"
---

# ntcard(1)

Streaming algorithm to estimate cardinality in genomics datasets

## NAME

ntcard - Streaming algorithm to estimate cardinality in genomics datasets

## SYNOPSIS

**ntCard** \[*OPTION*\]... *FILE(S)*...

## DESCRIPTION

Estimates k-mer coverage histogram in FILE(S).

Acceptable file formats: fastq, fasta, sam, bam and in compressed formats gz, bz, zip, xz. A list of files containing file names in each row can be passed with @ prefix.

-

  Options:

- **-t**, **--threads**=*N*

  use N parallel threads \[1\] (N\>=2 should be used when input files are \>=2)

- **-k**, **--kmer**=*N*

  the length of kmer

- **-g**, **--gap**=*N*

  the length of gap in the gap seed \[0\]. g mod 2 must equal k mod 2 unless g == 0 **-g** does not support multiple k currently.

- **-c**, **--cov**=*N*

  the maximum coverage of kmer in output \[1000\]

- **-p**, **--pref**=*STRING*

  the prefix for output file name(s)

- **-o**, **--output**=*STRING*

  the name for output file name (used when output should be a single file)

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

**--version** output version information and exit

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to https://github.com/bcgsc/ntCard/issues

## AUTHOR

 This manpage was written by Nilesh Patra for the Debian distribution and\
  can be used for any other usage of the program.