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