freeCodeCamp/guide/english/bash/bash-tail/index.md

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Bash tail

Bash tail

Tail is a program to display the tail end of a text file. If no option is given, tail shows the last 10 lines of a given file.

Usage

tail [options] [file_names]

Most used options:

• -f, display the last lines and then monitor the file. If new lines are added to the file, tail updates the display.
• -c NUM, display the last NUM bytes of the file.
• -n NUM, display the last NUM lines, instead of the last 10

Example

To show the last 10 lines from file log.txt

tail log.txt

Show only the last line from file log.txt

tail -n1 log.txt

Show live changes from file log.txt

tail -f log.txt

More Information:

• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tail_(Unix)