tail MacOS command
The tail command in MacOS is used to display the last part of a file. It is a useful tool for monitoring log files in real-time, especially when troubleshooting issues or tracking system activity. With options like -f to follow the output as new lines are added, -n to specify the number of lines to display, and -c to show a certain number of bytes, tail provides flexibility in viewing file content. By mastering the tail command, you can efficiently navigate through large files and extract the information you need.
tail Syntax:
tail [options] [file]tail Options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -n, —lines= | output the last N lines |
| -c, —bytes= | output the last N bytes |
| -f, —follow | output data as file grows |
| -q, —quiet | never output filename headers |
| -v, —verbose | always output filename headers |
Parameters:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| file | The file whose end will be displayed by tail. |
tail Command Usage Examples:
Display the last 10 lines of a file
tail file.txtDisplay the last 10 lines of the file “file.txt”.
Continuously display new lines added to a file
tail -f logfile.txtMonitor and display new lines added to the “logfile.txt” in real-time.
Display specific number of lines from the end of a file
tail -n 20 access.logDisplay the last 20 lines from the end of the “access.log” file.
Display lines from the middle of a file to the end
tail -n +5 data.csvDisplay all lines starting from line 5 to the end of the “data.csv” file.
Display the last N bytes of a file
tail -c 100 myfile.txtDisplay the last 100 bytes of the file “myfile.txt”.
How do I use tail in MacOS?
To use the tail command in bash, execute the following command:
tail filename.txtHow to display a specific number of lines from the end of a file in MacOS using tail?
To display a specific number of lines from the end of a file in MacOS using the tail command, use the -n option followed by the number of lines you want to display:
tail -n 20 filename.txtHow to continuously display new lines added to a file in MacOS with tail?
To continuously display new lines added to a file in MacOS using the tail command, use the -f option:
tail -f filename.txtHow to display lines in reverse order in MacOS using tail?
To display lines in reverse order in MacOS using the tail command, use the -r option:
tail -r filename.txtHow to display a specific range of lines from the end of a file in MacOS with tail?
To display a specific range of lines from the end of a file in MacOS using the tail command, use the -n option followed by the range in the format +start,end:
tail -n +5,10 filename.txtHow to exclude a specific number of lines from the end of a file in MacOS using tail?
To exclude a specific number of lines from the end of a file in MacOS using the tail command, use the -n option with a + sign before the number of lines you want to exclude:
tail -n +5 filename.txtHow to display the last part of multiple files in MacOS using tail?
To display the last part of multiple files in MacOS using the tail command, specify the file names as arguments:
tail file1.txt file2.txtHow to display the last part of a file and follow new lines in real-time in MacOS with tail?
To display the last part of a file and follow new lines in real-time in MacOS using the tail command, combine the -f option with the filename:
tail -f filename.txtApplications of the tail command
- Viewing the end of a text file
- Monitoring log files for real-time updates
- Extracting the last few lines of a file
- Receiving updates from continuously growing files
- Tracking changes in files over time