When working with Linux systems, it is common to encounter Bash scripts. These scripts are written in the Bash programming language and are used to automate tasks or perform a series of commands. One essential task when working with Bash scripts is to view the contents of a file. In this blog post, we will discuss various ways to view the contents of a Bash file in Linux.

Using cat Command

The simplest and most common way to view the contents of a file in Linux is by using the cat command. The cat command stands for “concatenate” and is primarily used to concatenate files and display their contents. To view the contents of a Bash file, open the terminal and type the following command:

cat filename.sh

Replace filename.sh with the actual name of the file you want to view. When you press enter, the contents of the file will be displayed on the terminal, allowing you to read and understand the script.

Using less Command

The less command is another useful tool for viewing file contents. Unlike cat, less allows you to scroll through the file and view it page by page. To use less to view a Bash file, execute the following command:

less filename.sh

This opens the file in the less viewer, and you can navigate through the content using the arrow keys. Press q to exit the viewer.

Using head and tail Commands

If you want to view only a portion of the file, you can use the head and tail commands. The head command displays the first few lines of a file, whereas tail shows the last few lines. Here’s how you can use these commands to view Bash file contents:

To view the first 10 lines of a file:

head filename.sh

To view the last 10 lines of a file:

tail filename.sh

You can also specify a different number of lines by using the -n option, like this:

head -n 5 filename.sh
tail -n 20 filename.sh

Conclusion

Being able to view the contents of a Bash file is crucial when working with Linux systems. The cat, less, head, and tail commands provide different ways to accomplish this. Whether you need to quickly glimpse the file’s contents or navigate through it page by page, these commands will make your work more efficient. So next time you need to view a Bash file, try out these methods and choose the one that suits your needs.