HEAD(1) | General Commands Manual | HEAD(1)

# NAME

`head` —
display first lines of a file

# SYNOPSIS

`head` | [`-qv`] [`-n` count] [`-c` byte_count] [file ...]

# DESCRIPTION

This filter displays the first count lines of each of the specified files, or of the standard input if no files are specified. If count is omitted it defaults to 10. If `-c` byte_count is specified, `head` counts bytes instead of lines.

If more than a single file is specified, or the `-v` option is used, each file is preceded by a header consisting of the string “==> XXX <==” where “XXX” is the name of the file. The `-q` flag disables the printing of the header in all cases.

# EXIT STATUS

The `head` utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.

# COMPATIBILITY

The historic command line syntax of `head` is supported by this implementation.

This command is mostly compatible with GNU extensions to `head`.

# SEE ALSO

tail(1)

# STANDARDS

The `head` utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (“POSIX.2”).

# HISTORY

The `head` utility appeared in 3.0BSD. It was enhanced to include the `-c`, `-q`, and `-v` options for NetBSD 2.1.

May 4, 2004 | NetBSD 10.1