Common UNIX Utilities Alphabetical List

addbib - create or extend a bibliographic database

apropos - locate commands by keyword lookup
ar - create library archives, and add or extract files
at - execute a command or script at a specified time
awk - pattern scanning and processing language
banner - display a string in large letters
basename - display portions of pathnames and filenames
batch - runs jobs when the system load level permits
biff - give notice of incoming mail messages
cal - display a calendar
calendar - a simple reminder service
cancel - cancel requests to a printer
cat - concatenate and display
cb - a simple C program beautifier
cc - C compiler
cd - change working directory
checknr - check nroff and troff input files; report possible errors
checkeq - checks documents formatted with memorandum macros
chgrp - change the group ownership of a file
chmod - change the permissions mode of a file
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 clear - clear the terminal screen

cmp - perform a byte-by-byte comparison of two files
colcrt - filter nroff output for a terminal lacking overstrike capability
comm - selects or rejects lines common to two sorted files
compress - compress files (see uncompress also)
cp - copy files
cpio - copy file archives in and out
cpp - the C language preprocessor
csh - a shell with a C-like syntax and advanced interactive features
ctags - create a tags file for use with ex and vi
cut - Writes out selected bytes, characters, or fields from each line of a file
date - display or set the date
dbx - source-level debugger
deroff - remove nroff, troff, tbl and eqn constructs
df - report free disk space on file systems
diff - display line-by-line differences between pairs of text files
du - display the number of disk blocks used per directory or file
e - starts the INed editor
echo - echo arguments to the standard output
ed, red - basic line editor
edit - provides a simple line editor for the new user
eqn - formats mathematical text for the troff command.
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 ex - edits lines interactively, with a screen display

expand - expand TAB characters to SPACE characters (see unexpand)
expr - evaluate arguments as a logical, arithmetic, or string expression
false - provide truth values (see true also)
file - determine the type of a file by examining its contents
find - find files by name, or by other characteristics
finger - display information about users
fmt - formats mail messages prior to sending
fold - folds long lines for finite-width output device
ftp - file transfer program
gprof - display call-graph profile data
grep - search a file for a string or regular expression
groups - display a user's group memberships
head - display first few lines of specified files
hostname - set or print name of current host system
indent - indent and format a C program source file
install - install files
join - relational database operator
kill - send a signal to a process, or terminate a process
last - indicate last logins by user or terminal
ld - link editor
leave - remind you when you have to leave
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 lex - lexical analysis program generator

lint - a C program verifier
ln - make hard or symbolic links to files
login - log in to the system
look - find words in the system dictionary or lines in a sorted list
lookbib - find references in a bibliographic database
lorder - find an ordering relation for an object library
lp - send requests to a printer
lpq - display the queue of printer jobs
lpr - send a job to the printer
lprm - remove jobs from the printer queue
ls - list the contents of a directory
mail, Mail - read or send mail messages
make - maintain, update, and regenerate related programs and files
man - display reference manual pages
mesg - permit or deny messages on the terminal
mkdir - make a directory
mkstr - create an error message file by massaging C source files
more - browse or page through a text file
mv - move or rename files
nice - run a command at low priority
nm - print symbol name list
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 neqn - formats mathematical text for the nroff command.

nroff - format documents for display or line-printer
od - octal, decimal, hexadecimal, and ascii dump
page - browse or page through a text file
passwd - change local password information
paste - joins lines from one or more files
pr - prepare files for printing, perhaps in multiple columns
prof - display profile data
ps - display the status of current processes
pwd - display the pathname of the current working directory
ranlib - convert archives to random libraries
rcp - remote file copy
rev - reverse the order of characters in each line
rlogin - remote login
rm - remove files or directories
rmdir - remove directories
roffbib - format and print a bibliographic database
rsh - remote shell
rup - show host status of local machines RPC version
ruptime - show host status of local machines
rusers - who's logged in on local machines RPC version
rwall - write to all users over a network
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 rwho - who's logged in on local machines

sccs - front end for the Source Code Control System SCCS. Includes a number
of related commands with their own man pages.
script - make typescript of a terminal session
sed - stream editor
sh - shell, the standard UNIX system command interpreter and command-level
language
size - display the size of an object file
sleep - suspend execution for a specified interval
sort - sort and collate lines
sortbib - sort a bibliographic database
spell - report spelling errors
split - split a file into pieces
strings - find printable strings in an object file or binary
strip - remove symbols and relocation bits from an object file
stty - sets, resets, and reports workstation operating parameters
su - super-user, temporarily switch to a new user ID
tabs - set tab stops on a terminal
tail - display the last part of a file
talk - talk to another user
tar - create tape archives, and add or extract files
tbl - format tables for nroff or troff
tee - replicate the standard output
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 telnet - user interface to a remote system using the TELNET protocol

test - evaluates conditional expressions
tftp - trivial file transfer program
time - time a command
touch - update the access and modification times of a file
troff - typeset or format documents
true - provide truth values (see false also)
tsort - topological sort
tty - display the name of the terminal
ul - do underlining
uncompress - uncompress files (see compress also)
uniq - remove or report adjacent duplicate lines
units - conversion program
uptime - show how long the system has been up
users - display a compact list of users logged in
uucp - system to system copy
unexpand - restores TAB characters from SPACE characters (see expand)
vacation - reply to mail automatically
vi, vedit - visual display editor
view - starts the vi editor in read-only mode
w - who is logged in, and what are they doing
wait - wait for a process to finish
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 wall - write to all users logged in

wc - display a count of lines, words and characters
whatis - describes what function a command performs
whereis - locates source, binary, or manual for program
which - locates a program file, including aliases and paths
who - identifies the users currently logged in
whoami - display your username
write - send messages to other users on the system in real time
xargs - constructs parameter lists and runs commands
xstr - extract strings from C programs to implement shared strings
yacc - yet another compiler-compiler: parsing program generator
yes - outputs an affirmative response repetitively
zcat - display compressed files

Common UNIX Utilities Functional List

Files and Directories
Information
Mail
Miscellaneous
Printing
Programming Tools
Shells, Job Control and Access
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 Terminal Related
Text Formatting and Editing
User Information and Communications
uucp / BNU
Files and Directories
ar - create library archives, and add or extract files
basename - display portions of pathnames and filenames
cat - concatenate and display
cd - change working directory
chgrp - change the group ownership of a file
chmod - change the permissions mode of a file
cmp - perform a byte-by-byte comparison of two files
comm - selects or rejects lines common to two sorted files
compress - compress files (see uncompress also)
cp - copy files
cpio - copy file archives in and out
csh - a shell with a C-like syntax and advanced interactive features
cut - Writes out selected bytes, characters, or fields from each line of a file
df - report free disk space on file systems
diff - display line-by-line differences between pairs of text files
du - display the number of disk blocks used per directory or file
expand - expand TAB characters to SPACE characters (see unexpand)
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 file - determine the type of a file by examining its contents

find - find files by name, or by other characteristics
install - install files
ftp - file transfer program
grep - search a file for a string or regular expression
head - display first few lines of specified files
ln - make hard or symbolic links to files
ls - list the contents of a directory
mkdir - make a directory
more - browse or page through a text file
mv - move or rename files
od - octal, decimal, hexadecimal, and ascii dump
page - browse or page through a text file
paste - joins lines from one or more files
pwd - display the pathname of the current working directory
rcp - remote file copy
rev - reverse the order of characters in each line
rm - remove files or directories
rmdir - remove directories
size - display the size of an object file
sort - sort and collate lines
spell - report spelling errors
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 split - split a file into pieces

strings - find printable strings in an object file or binary
strip - remove symbols and relocation bits from an object file
tail - display the last part of a file
tar - create tape archives, and add or extract files
tee - replicate the standard output
tftp - trivial file transfer program
touch - update the access and modification times of a file
uncompress - uncompress files (see compress also)
uniq - remove or report adjacent duplicate lines
unexpand - restores TAB characters from SPACE characters (see expand)
wc - display a count of lines, words and characters
zcat - display compressed files
Information
apropos - locate commands by keyword lookup
hostname - set or print name of current host system
man - display reference manual pages
rup - show host status of local machines RPC version
ruptime - show host status of local machines
uptime - show how long the system has been up
whatis - describes what function a command performs
whereis - locates source, binary, or manual for program
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 which - locates a program file, including aliases and paths

Mail
biff - give notice of incoming mail messages
mail, Mail - read or send mail messages
vacation - reply to mail automatically
Miscellaneous
banner - display a string in large letters
cal - display a calendar
calendar - a simple reminder service
date - display or set the date
join - relational database operator
echo - echo arguments to the standard output
look - find words in the system dictionary or lines in a sorted list
leave - remind you when you have to leave
script - make typescript of a terminal session
tsort - topological sort
units - conversion program
yes - outputs an affirmative response repetitively
Printing
cancel - cancel requests to a printer
lp - send requests to a printer
lpq - display the queue of printer jobs
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 lpr - send a job to the printer

lprm - remove jobs from the printer queue
pr - prepare files for printing, perhaps in multiple columns
Programming Tools
ar - create library archives, and add or extract files
awk - pattern scanning and processing language
cb - a simple C program beautifier
cc - C compiler
cpp - the C language preprocessor
dbx - source-level debugger
indent - indent and format a C program source file
gprof - display call-graph profile data
ld - link editor
lex - lexical analysis program generator
lint - a C program verifier
lorder - find an ordering relation for an object library
make - maintain, update, and regenerate related programs and files
mkstr - create an error message file by massaging C source files
nm - print symbol name list
prof - display profile data
ranlib - convert archives to random libraries

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 sccs - front end for the Source Code Control System SCCS. Includes a number
of related commands with their own man pages.
size - display the size of an object file
strip - remove symbols and relocation bits from an object file
xstr - extract strings from C programs to implement shared strings
yacc - yet another compiler-compiler: parsing program generator
Shells, Job Control and Access
at - execute a command or script at a specified time
batch - runs jobs when the system load level permits
expr - evaluate arguments as a logical, arithmetic, or string expression
false - provide truth values (see true also)
kill - send a signal to a process, or terminate a process
login - log in to the system
nice - run a command at low priority
passwd - change local password information
ps - display the status of current processes
rlogin - remote login
rsh - remote shell
sh - shell, the standard UNIX system command interpreter and command level
language
sleep - suspend execution for a specified interval
su - super-user, temporarily switch to a new user ID
telnet - user interface to a remote system using the TELNET protocol
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 test - evaluates conditional expressions

time - time a command
true - provide truth values (see false also)
wait - wait for a process to finish
xargs - constructs parameter lists and runs commands
Terminal Related
clear - clear the terminal screen
mesg - permit or deny messages on the terminal
stty - sets, resets, and reports workstation operating parameters
tabs - set tab stops on a terminal
tty - display the name of the terminal
Text Formatting and Editing
addbib - create or extend a bibliographic database
checknr - check nroff and troff input files; report possible errors
checkeq - checks documents formatted with memorandum macros
colcrt - filter nroff output for a terminal lacking overstrike capability
ctags - create a tags file for use with ex and vi
deroff - remove nroff, troff, tbl and eqn constructs
e - starts the INed editor
ed, red - basic line editor
edit - provides a simple line editor for the new user
eqn - formats mathematical text for the troff command.
15

 ex - edits lines interactively, with a screen display

fmt - formats mail messages prior to sending
fold - folds long lines for finite-width output device
lookbib - find references in a bibliographic database
neqn - formats mathematical text for the nroff command.
nroff - format documents for display or line-printer
roffbib - format and print a bibliographic database
sed - stream editor
sortbib - sort a bibliographic database
tbl - format tables for nroff or troff
troff - typeset or format documents
ul - do underlining
vi, vedit - visual display editor
view - starts the vi editor in read-only mode
User Information and Communication
finger - display information about users
groups - display a user's group memberships
last - indicate last logins by user or terminal
rusers - who's logged in on local machines RPC version
rwall - write to all users over a network
rwho - who's logged in on local machines
talk - talk to another user
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 users - display a compact list of users logged in

w - who is logged in, and what are they doing
wall - write to all users logged in
write - send messages to other users on the system in real time
who - identifies the users currently logged in
whoami - display your username
uucp / BNU
uucp - system to system copy
uuencode, uudecode - encode a binary file, or decode its ASCII representation
uulog - provides information about BNU file-transfer activities on a system.
uuname - provides information about other systems accessible to the local
system
uusend - send a file to a remote host

uux - runs a command on another UNIX-based system

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