head - output beginning portion of one or more files

head copies one or more input files to standard output stopping at a designated point for each file or to the end of the file whichever comes first. Copying ends at the point indicated by the options. By default a header of the form ==> filename <== is output before all but the first file but this can be changed with the -q and -v options.

If no file is given, or if the file is -, head copies from standard input starting at the current location.

The option argument for -c, and -s can optionally be followed by one of the following characters to specify a different unit other than a single byte:

b

512 bytes.

k

1-killobyte.

m

1-megabyte.

For backwards compatibility, -number is equivalent to -n number.

-n, --lines=lines

Copy lines lines from each file. The default value is 10.

-c, --bytes=chars

Copy chars bytes from each file.

-q, --quiet|silent

Never ouput filename headers.

-s, --skip=skip

Skip skip characters or lines from each file before copying.

-v, --verbose

Always ouput filename headers.

0

All files copied successfully.

>0

One or more files did not copy.

cat(1), tail(1)

version

head (AT&T Research) 2012-05-31

author

Glenn Fowler <gsf@research.att.com>

author

David Korn <dgk@research.att.com>

copyright

Copyright © 1992-2012 AT&T Intellectual Property

license

http://www.eclipse.org/org/documents/epl-v10.html