echo(1)
echo - echo arguments
Showing IRIX 6.5.30 (default release). Last changed in IRIX 6.5.15.
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.