paste

Linux · Text · reference only

What it does

Merges files line by line, placing each line of one file next to the line in the same position of the others.

Syntax

paste [opciones] [fichero...]

Options and parameters

• -d lista

  Uses those characters as delimiters instead of a tab.

• -s

  Joins all the lines of each file into a single one, instead of going file by file.

• -z

  Uses the null character as the line separator.

• -

  Reads from standard input; repeating it spreads the lines into columns.

Usage examples

• paste nombres.txt edades.txt

  Joins each name with its age, separated by a tab.

• paste -d: a.txt b.txt

  Same, but separated by a colon.

• paste -sd, lista.txt

  Turns a file's lines into a single comma-separated line.

• seq 6 | paste - - -

  Spreads the numbers 1 to 6 into two rows of three columns.

Notes and common mistakes

• If one file has fewer lines than another, the missing columns are left empty.

Related commands

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