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

# shuf(1)

generate random permutations

## NAME

shuf - generate random permutations

## SYNOPSIS

**shuf** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*FILE*\]\
 **shuf** *-e* \[*OPTION*\]... \[*ARG*\]...\
 **shuf** *-i LO-HI* \[*OPTION*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Write a random permutation of the input lines to standard output.

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

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

- **-e, --echo**

  treat each ARG as an input line

- **-i, --input-range=LO-HI**

  treat each number LO through HI as an input line

- **-n, --head-count=COUNT**

  output at most COUNT lines

- **-o, --output=FILE**

  write result to FILE instead of standard output

- **--random-source=FILE**

  get random bytes from FILE

- **-r, --repeat**

  output lines can be repeated

- **-z, --zero-terminated**

  line delimiter is NUL, not newline

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## AUTHOR

Written by Paul Eggert.

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