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PUBLISHED ON: FEBRUARY 13, 2023

View file contents with bat: modern cat command alternative for Linux

The Linux bat command is a popular choice among developers and system administrators because of its simplicity and versatility. It is a lightweight command-line utility that can be used to view, edit, and create text files. It comes with a range of features that make it easier to read and edit text files, such as syntax highlighting, line numbering, and file type detection.

The Linux bat command is available on most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS. It can be installed using the package manager of your Linux distribution, or you can download and compile the source code from the official website.

batcat command help in Linux terminal

Basic usage of bat command

Here are some of the basic commands that you can use with the Linux bat command:

View a text file with bat command

To view a text file using the Linux bat command, simply run the following command:

bat <filename>

For example, to view a file called "test.txt", you can run the following command:

bat test.txt

This will open the file in the terminal window, with syntax highlighting and line numbering enabled.

Using bat command to view bashrc file in Linux

Conclusion

The Linux bat command is a useful tool for viewing and editing text files in the terminal. It comes with a range of features that make it easier to read and edit text files, including syntax highlighting, line numbering, and file type detection. It is a lightweight and efficient tool that is widely used by developers and system administrators.



About the author:
Pradeep has expertise in Linux, Go, Nginx, Apache, CyberSecurity, AppSec and various other technical areas. He has contributed to numerous publications and websites, providing his readers with insightful and informative content.