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

# ul(1)

do underlining

## NAME

**ul** – do underlining

## SYNOPSIS

**ul** \[**-i**\] \[**-t** *terminal*\] \[*file ...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **ul** utility reads the named files (or standard input if none are given) and translates occurrences of underscores to the sequence which indicates underlining for the terminal in use, as specified by the environment variable TERM. The file */etc/termcap* is read to determine the appropriate sequences for underlining. If the terminal is incapable of underlining, but is capable of a standout mode then that is used instead. If the terminal can overstrike, or handles underlining automatically, **ul** degenerates to [cat(1)](/cat/1.md). If the terminal cannot underline, underlining is ignored.

The following options are available:

- **-i**

  Underlining is indicated by a separate line containing appropriate dashes ‘-’.

- **-t** *terminal*

  Overrides the terminal type specified in the environment with *terminal*.

## ENVIRONMENT

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

## EXIT STATUS

The **ul** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

[man(1)](/man/1.md), [mandoc(1)](/mandoc/1.md)

## HISTORY

The **ul** command appeared in 3.0BSD.