NAME
echo —
write arguments to the standard
output
SYNOPSIS
echo |
[-Een] [string ...] |
DESCRIPTION
The echo utility writes any specified
operands, separated by single blank (‘ ’) characters
and followed by a newline (‘\n’) character, to the standard
output.
When no operands are given, only the newline is written. The
-- operand, which generally denotes an end to option
processing, is treated as part of string.
The options are as follows:
-E- Disable interpretation of backslash escape sequences (default).
-e- Enable interpretation of the following backslash escape sequences:
\\- A literal backslash.
\a- Alert (BEL).
\b- Backspace.
\c- Suppress further output, including the trailing newline character.
\e- Escape character.
\f- Form feed.
\n- Newline.
\r- Carriage return.
\t- Horizontal tab.
\v- Vertical tab.
\0nnn- The character whose octal value is nnn (zero to three octal digits).
\xhh- The character whose hexadecimal value is hh (one or two hexadecimal digits).
-n- Do not print the trailing newline character.
EXIT STATUS
The echo utility exits 0 on
success, and >0 if an error occurs.
SEE ALSO
STANDARDS
The echo utility is compliant with the
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”)
specification.
The flags [-E],
[-e], and [-n] conflict with
the behaviour mandated by the X/Open System Interfaces option of the
IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”)
specification, which says they should be treated as part of
string.
echo also exists as a built-in to
csh(1) and
ksh(1), though
with a different syntax.
Where portability is paramount, use printf(1).
HISTORY
An echo utility appeared in
Version 2 AT&T UNIX.