cat

Before running this

This is a reference for Bash; commands do not run on this page. Use the matching shell on your own computer. Read the example, expected result and notes before trying it. New to terminals? Start with the shell basics.

Syntax

UPPERCASE words are placeholders to replace. Brackets in the syntax line describe optional arguments; do not type those brackets literally.

cat [FILE...]

Example

cat -- note.txt

Expected result

The contents of an existing note.txt.

Notes and traps

Binary data can disrupt a terminal. -- ends option parsing in GNU tools.

Related commands

• PowerShell: Get-Content
• CMD: type

Related tasks may need different flags and have different semantics. Check the entry before translating a command between shells.

Updated 13 September 2026. Examples describe the expected behavior; not every platform is available for execution testing.