echo - display a line of text

Synopsis

echo [OPTIONS] [STRING]

Description

echo displays STRING of text.

The following options are available:

• -n

  Do not output a newline.

-s

Do not separate arguments with spaces.

-E

Disable interpretation of backslash escapes (default).

-e

Enable interpretation of backslash escapes.

Unlike other shells, this echo accepts -- to signal the end of the options.

Escape Sequences

If -e is used, the following sequences are recognized:

• \ backslash
• \a alert (BEL)
• \b backspace
• \c produce no further output
• \e escape
• \f form feed
• \n new line
• \r carriage return
• \t horizontal tab
• \v vertical tab
• \0NNN byte with octal value NNN (1 to 3 digits)
• \xHH byte with hexadecimal value HH (1 to 2 digits)

Example

> echo 'Hello World'
Hello World

> echo -e 'Top\nBottom'
Top
Bottom

> echo -- -n
-n

See Also

• the printf command, for more control over output formatting