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BASH - cut

The cut command allows cutting of sections based on byte positions, characters, or fields separated by a delimiter like the ‘-‘ or ‘:’ characters.

cut - remove sections from each line of files.

cut can return section based on number of bytes (-b), characters (-c), or fields (-f) when fields are separated by a delimiter(-d).

Default delimiter is tab.

Cut using Bytes

Cut using Characters

Cut using Fields

Field Cuts

Cut fields from a string, using a delimiter

cut -f 2- -d ':'
23:34:45:56

NOTE: -d specifies delimiter

returns:

34:45:56

Cut fields from a string, without specifying a delimiter

cut -f 2
er rt fg wd ji

returns:

er rt fg wd ji

NOTE: cut didn't find the delimiter (default is tab) so returns whole line.

Cut fields from a string, without specifying a delimiter; and prevent printing when delimiter not found

cut -f 2 -s
er rt fg wd ji

NOTE: cut wont print as -s flag is used to prevent printing when delimiter not found.

Cut fields from a file, using a delimiter

cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd >users.txt

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