What is sort Linux command?

The Linux sort command is a handy tool for arranging lines of text in a file based on alphabetical, numerical, or positional order. It also allows for custom sorting options and can be used in combination with other commands to manipulate and organize text data efficiently.

sort Syntax:

sort [option] [file]

sort Options:

Option	Description
-r	Reverse the result of comparison
-n	Compare according to numerical value
-f	Ignore case while sorting
-k	Sort by key field
-u	Output only unique lines
-t	Specify the field delimiter

Caution

Exercise caution while using the sort command, as it can modify the order of lines in a file and potentially overwrite the original file if not used carefully.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
file	The file to be sorted

sort Command Usage Examples:

Sort a text file in ascending order

sort file.txt

This command will sort the lines in the file.txt in ascending order.

Sort a text file in descending order

sort -r file.txt

This command will sort the lines in the file.txt in descending order.

Sort a text file based on a specific column

sort -k2 file.txt

This command will sort the lines in the file.txt based on the second column.

Sort a numeric text file

sort -n numbers.txt

This command will sort the lines in numbers.txt numerically.

Sort a text file ignoring case

sort -f file.txt

This command will sort the lines in the file.txt ignoring the case.

Tip

When using the sort command in Linux, make sure to specify the correct options to achieve the desired sorting behavior. Additionally, remember that the sort command operates by default on the entire input, so be mindful of the scope of data being sorted.

How do I use sort in Linux?

To use the sort command in bash, execute the following command:

sort file.txt

How can I sort numerically with sort in Linux?

To sort numerically using the sort command in bash, use the following command:

sort -n numbers.txt

How do I sort in reverse order with sort in Linux?

To sort in reverse order using the sort command in bash, utilize the following command:

sort -r file.txt

How can I ignore leading blanks when sorting with sort in Linux?

To ignore leading blanks when sorting using the sort command in bash, employ the following command:

sort -b file.txt

How do I sort in reverse numerical order with sort in Linux?

To sort in reverse numerical order using the sort command in bash, use the following command:

sort -nr numbers.txt

How can I sort based on a specific column with sort in Linux?

To sort based on a specific column using the sort command in bash, use the following command:

sort -k2 data.txt

How do I perform a case-insensitive sort with sort in Linux?

To perform a case-insensitive sort using the sort command in bash, execute the following command:

sort -f names.txt

How can I sort files in a directory with sort in Linux?

To sort files in a directory using the sort command in bash, you can combine it with other commands like “ls”:

ls | sort

Applications of the sort command

• Sorting lines of text files
• Merging and sorting multiple files
• Removing duplicate lines from a file
• Sorting data in a specific order (numerically or alphabetically)
• Preparing data for further processing or analysis