column

Linux · Text · reference only

What it does

Formats its input into columns. With -t it aligns the fields like a table, which makes long output easier to read.

Syntax

column [opciones] [fichero...]

Options and parameters

• -t

  Builds a table by aligning the columns according to the fields of each line.

• -s separador

  Characters that separate the fields in the input, to use with -t.

• -o cadena

  String that separates the columns in the table output.

• -c ancho

  Spreads the input into columns fitted to that screen width.

• -x

  Fills by rows first instead of by columns.

• -J

  Prints the table as JSON (needs -N to name the columns).

Usage examples

• column -t -s: /etc/passwd | head -3

  Shows the first three accounts with the fields aligned.

• mount | column -t

  Aligns the output of mount to read it better.

• printf 'a,b\nc,d\n' | column -t -s,

  Turns comma-separated data into an aligned table.

• ls | column -c 80

  Spreads the names into columns for an 80-character screen.

Notes and common mistakes

• On Debian and Ubuntu it ships in the bsdextrautils package, which may not be installed on minimal systems.

Related commands

• awk
• cat
• cut
• diff
• grep
• head