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

# sum(1)

checksum and count the blocks in a file

## NAME

sum - checksum and count the blocks in a file

## SYNOPSIS

**sum** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*FILE*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Print or check BSD (16-bit) checksums. Legacy interface to the [**cksum**(1)](/cksum/1.md) utility.

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

- **-r**

  use BSD sum algorithm (the default), use 1K blocks

- **-s, --sysv**

  use System V sum algorithm, use 512 bytes blocks

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

## AUTHOR

Written by Kayvan Aghaiepour 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/sum\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) sum invocation'