What Does Tail Do in Linux?

The tail command, as the name implies, print the last N number of data of the given input. By default it prints the last 10 lines of the specified files. If more than one file name is provided then data from each file is precedes by its file name.

What does tail mean in Linux?

The tail command is a command-line utility for outputting the last part of files given to it via standard input. It writes results to standard output. By default tail returns the last ten lines of each file that it is given. It may also be used to follow a file in real-time and watch as new lines are written to it.

How do you use the tail command?

How to Use the Tail Command

1. Enter the tail command, followed by the file you’d like to view: tail /var/log/auth.log. …
2. To change the number of lines displayed, use the -n option: tail -n 50 /var/log/auth.log. …
3. To show a real-time, streaming output of a changing file, use the -f or –follow options: tail -f /var/log/auth.log.

10 апр. 2017 г.