ECHO(1)                                                                ECHO(1)


NAME
     echo - echo arguments

SYNOPSIS
     echo [ -n ] [ arg ] ...

DESCRIPTION
     echo writes its arguments separated by blanks and terminated by a new-
     line (except when "-n" is specified, see below) on the standard output.
     It also understands C-like escape conventions; beware of conflicts with
     the shell's use of \:

          \b   backspace
          \c   print line without new-line
          \f   form-feed
          \n   new-line
          \r   carriage return
          \t   tab
          \v   vertical tab
          \\   backslash
          \0n  where n is the 8-bit character whose ASCII code is the 1-, 2-
               or 3-digit octal number representing that character.

     echo has two operating modes.  By default, echo operates compatibly with
     certain earlier versions of System V echo. If the environment variable
     _XPG is defined, and has a numeric value greater than 0, echo operates in
     conformance with the X/Open XPG4 specifications. In this mode, when -n is
     specified, it is treated as a string, like any other arguments.  In the
     backward compatibility mode, when -n is specified, it means "no new-
     line". The arguments will not be terminated by a new-line on the standard
     output.

     echo is useful for producing diagnostics in command files and for sending
     known data into a pipe.

SEE ALSO
     csh(1), sh(1).

CAVEATS
     When representing an 8-bit character by using the escape convention \0n,
     the n must always be preceded by the digit zero (0).
     For example, typing:  echo 'WARNING:\07' will print the phrase WARNING:
     and sound the ``bell'' on your terminal.  The use of single (or double)
     quotes (or two backslashes) is required to protect the ``\'' that
     precedes the ``07''.

     For the octal equivalents of each character, see ascii(5).

     echo is often a builtin to the shells, see the shell man pages for
     feature specific to each shell.  This man page documents the executable
     program, not the builtin versions, although they are similar.


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