This documents an old version of fish. See the latest release.

echo - display a line of text

Synopsis

echo [OPTIONS] [STRING]

Description

echo displays a 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