NAME
echo —
write arguments to the standard
output
SYNOPSIS
echo |
[-n] [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:
-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 flag [-n] conflicts with the behaviour
mandated by the X/Open System Interfaces option of the IEEE
Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification, which says
it should be treated as part of string. Additionally,
echo does not support any of the backslash character
sequences mandated by XSI.
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.