View source for GNU Core Utilities

{{Short description|Collection of standard, Unix-based utilities from GNU}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2011}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = GNU Core Utilities
| logo                   = 
| logo size              = 
| screenshot             =
| caption                =
| developer              = [[GNU Project]]
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1348204|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date    = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1348204|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}
| latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q1348204|P348|P548=Q51930650}}
| latest preview date    = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q1348204|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}}
| programming language   = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[shell script]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.openhub.net/p/coreutils/analyses/latest/languages_summary |title=The GNU Core Utilities Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page |access-date=2019-03-28 |archive-date=2019-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328192200/https://www.openhub.net/p/coreutils/analyses/latest/languages_summary |url-status=live }}</ref>
| operating system       = [[Unix-like]]
| genre                  = Miscellaneous utilities
| license                = 2007, [[GNU General Public License#Version 3|GPL 3.0]] or later since version 6.10<br>2002, [[GNU General Public License|GPL 2.0]] or later until version 6.9
| website                = {{URL|https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/}}
}}
The '''GNU Core Utilities''' or '''coreutils''' is a collection of [[GNU]] [[software]] that implements many standard, [[Unix]]-based [[shell (computing)|shell]] [[command (computing)|commands]]. The utilities generally provide [[POSIX]] compliant interface when the {{mono|POSIXLY_CORRECT}} environment variable is set, but otherwise offers a superset to the standard interface. For example, the utilities support [[command-line interface#Option conventions in Unix-like systems|long options]] and options after parameters. This environment variable enables a different functionality in [[BSD]].

Similar collections are available in the [[Free and open-source software|FOSS]] ecosystem, with a slightly different scope and focus (less functionality), or license. For example, [[BusyBox]] which is licensed under [[GNU General Public License|GPL-2.0-only]], and [[Toybox]] which is licensed under [[BSD licenses|0BSD]].

== Commands ==

The commands implemented by coreutils are listed below. Throughout this article and customary for Unix-based systems, the term ''file'' refers to all [[Unix file types|file system items]] including regular files and special files such as directories.

=== File utilities ===
* <code>chcon</code> {{endash}} Changes file security context ([[SELinux]])
* <code>[[chgrp]]</code> {{endash}} Changes file group ownership
* <code>[[chown]]</code> {{endash}} Changes file user ownership
* <code>[[chmod]]</code> {{endash}} Changes file permissions
* <code>[[cp (Unix)|cp]]</code> {{endash}} Copies files
* <code>[[dd (Unix)|dd]]</code> {{endash}} Copies and converts file data
* <code>[[df (Unix)|df]]</code> {{endash}} Reports file system free space
* <code>[[ls|dir]]</code> {{endash}} Like <code>ls -C -b</code>; by default lists files in columns, sorted vertically
* <code>dircolors</code> {{endash}} Configures colors used for <code>ls</code> output
* <code>[[install (Unix)|install]]</code> {{endash}} Copies files and sets file attributes
* <code>[[ln (Unix)|ln]]</code> {{endash}} Creates a link to a file
* <code>[[ls]]</code> {{endash}} Lists files
* <code>[[mkdir]]</code> {{endash}} Creates directories
* <code>[[mkfifo]]</code> {{endash}} Creates [[named pipe]]s (FIFOs)
* <code>[[mknod]]</code> {{endash}} Creates [[device node|block or character special files]]
* <code>[[mktemp]]</code> {{endash}} Creates [[temporary file|temporary]] regular files or directories
* <code>[[mv (Unix)|mv]]</code> {{endash}} Moves and renames files
* <code>realpath</code> {{endash}} Reports the absolute or relative path of a file
* <code>[[rm (Unix)|rm]]</code> {{endash}} Deletes files
* <code>[[rmdir]]</code> {{endash}} Deletes empty directories
* <code>[[shred (Unix)|shred]]</code> {{endash}} Overwrites a file to hide its contents and optionally deletes it
* <code>[[sync (Unix)|sync]]</code> {{endash}} Flushes file system buffers
* <code>[[touch (command)|touch]]</code> {{endash}} Changes file timestamps; creating files if they do not exist
* <code>truncate</code> {{endash}} Sets the size of a file via truncation or extension
* <code>[[ls|vdir]]</code> {{endash}} Like <code>ls -l -b</code>; by default lists files in long format

=== Text utilities ===

* <code>b2sum</code> {{endash}} Computes and checks [[BLAKE2b]] message digest
* <code>base32</code> {{endash}} Encodes or decodes [[base32]]
* <code>base64</code> {{endash}} Encodes or decodes [[base64]]
* <code>basenc</code> {{endash}} Encodes or decodes various encodings including [[hexadecimal]], [[base32]], [[base64]], and Z85
* <code>[[cat (Unix)|cat]]</code> {{endash}} Concatenates files
* <code>[[cksum]]</code> {{endash}} Report or compute the checksum of files
* <code>[[comm]]</code> {{endash}} Compares two sorted files line by line
* <code>[[csplit]]</code> {{endash}} Splits a file into sections determined by context lines
* <code>[[cut (Unix)|cut]]</code> {{endash}} Removes sections from each line of files
* <code>[[expand (Unix)|expand]]</code> {{endash}} Converts tabs to spaces
* <code>[[fmt (Unix)|fmt]]</code> {{endash}} Formats text
* <code>[[fold (Unix)|fold]]</code> {{endash}} Wraps each input line to fit in specified width
* <code>[[head (Unix)|head]]</code> {{endash}} Outputs the first part of files
* <code>[[join (Unix)|join]]</code> {{endash}} Joins lines of two files on a common field
* <code>[[md5sum]]</code> {{endash}} Computes and checks [[MD5]] message digest
* <code>[[nl (Unix)|nl]]</code> {{endash}} Numbers lines of files
* <code>numfmt</code> {{endash}} Formats numbers
* <code>[[od (Unix)|od]]</code> {{endash}} Dumps files in octal and other formats
* <code>[[paste (Unix)|paste]]</code> {{endash}} Merges lines of files
* <code>[[ptx (Unix)|ptx]]</code> {{endash}} Produces a [[permuted index]] of file contents
* <code>[[pr (Unix)|pr]]</code> {{endash}} Paginates or columnates files
* <code>[[sha1sum]]</code>, <code>sha224sum</code>, <code>sha256sum</code>, <code>sha384sum</code>, <code>sha512sum</code> {{endash}} Computes and checks [[SHA-1]]/[[SHA-2]] message digests
* <code>[[shuf]]</code> {{endash}} Generates random permutations
* <code>[[sort (Unix)|sort]]</code> {{endash}} Sorts lines of text files
* <code>[[split (Unix)|split]]</code> {{endash}} Splits a file into pieces
* <code>[[sum (Unix)|sum]]</code> {{endash}} Checksums and counts the blocks in a file
* <code>tac</code> {{endash}} Concatenates files in reverse order; line by line
* <code>[[tail (Unix)|tail]]</code> {{endash}} Outputs the last part of files
* <code>[[tr (Unix)|tr]]</code> {{endash}} Translates or deletes characters
* <code>[[tsort]]</code> {{endash}} Performs a [[topological sort]]
* <code>[[unexpand]]</code> {{endash}} Converts spaces to tabs
* <code>[[uniq]]</code> {{endash}} Removes duplicate lines from a sorted file
* <code>[[wc (Unix)|wc]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the number of bytes, words, and lines in files

=== Shell utilities ===

* <code>[[uname|arch]]</code> {{endash}} Reports machine hardware name; same as {{code|uname -m}}
* <code>[[basename]]</code> {{endash}} Removes the path prefix from a given pathname
* <code>[[chroot]]</code> {{endash}} Changes the root directory
* <code>[[Unix time#Command line|date]]</code> {{endash}} Reports or sets the system date and time
* <code>[[dirname]]</code> {{endash}} Strips non-directory suffix from file name
* <code>[[du (Unix)|du]]</code> {{endash}} Shows disk usage on file systems
* <code>[[echo (command)|echo]]</code> {{endash}} Outputs text
* <code>[[env]]</code> {{endash}} Reports and modifies [[environment variable]]s
* <code>[[expr]]</code> {{endash}} Evaluates expressions
* <code>[[factor (Unix)|factor]]</code> {{endash}} [[Integer factorization|Factors numbers]]
* <code>[[false (Unix)|false]]</code> {{endash}} Does nothing but exit with unsuccessful status
* <code>[[groups (Unix)|groups]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the [[group identifier (Unix)|groups]] of which the user is a member
* <code>hostid</code> {{endash}} Reports the numeric identifier for the current host
* <code>[[id (Unix)|id]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the real or effective [[user identifier|UID]] and [[group identifier (Unix)|GID]]
* <code>[[link (Unix)|link]]</code> {{endash}} Creates a [[hard link|link]] to a file
* <code>[[logname]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the user's login name
* <code>[[nice (Unix)|nice]]</code> {{endash}} Modifies [[scheduling (computing)|scheduling]] priority
* <code>[[nohup]]</code> {{endash}} Allows a command to continue running after logging out
* <code>nproc</code> {{endash}} Queries the number of (active) processors
* <code>pathchk</code> {{endash}} Checks whether file names are valid or portable
* <code>pinky</code> {{endash}} A lightweight version of [[finger protocol|finger]]
* <code>[[printenv]]</code> {{endash}} Reports [[environment variable]]s
* <code>[[printf (Unix)|printf]]</code> {{endash}} Formats text
* <code>[[pwd]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the [[current working directory]]
* <code>[[readlink (Unix)|readlink]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the value of a [[symbolic link]]
* <code>runcon</code> {{endash}} Run command with specified security context
* <code>[[seq (Unix)|seq]]</code> {{endash}} Reports a sequence of numbers
* <code>[[sleep (command)|sleep]]</code> {{endash}} Blocks (delays, waits) for a specified amount of time
* <code>[[stat (system call)|stat]]</code> {{endash}} Reports information about an [[inode]]
* <code>stdbuf</code> {{endash}} Runs a command with custom standard streams configuration
* <code>[[stty (Unix)|stty]]</code> {{endash}} Changes and reports terminal line settings
* <code>[[tee (command)|tee]]</code> {{endash}} Sends output to multiple files
* <code>[[test (Unix)|test]]</code> {{endash}} Evaluates an expression
* <code>timeout</code> {{endash}} Runs a command with a [[Timeout (computing)|time limit]]
* <code>[[true (Unix)|true]]</code> {{endash}} Does nothing but exit with success status
* <code>tty</code> {{endash}} Reports the [[computer terminal|terminal]] name
* <code>[[uname]]</code> {{endash}} Reports system information
* <code>[[unlink (Unix)|unlink]]</code> {{endash}} Removes files via <code>unlink()</code> function
* <code>[[Uptime#coreutils|uptime]]</code> {{endash}} Reports how long the system has been running
* <code>[[users (Unix)|users]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the user names of users currently logged into the current host
* <code>[[who (Unix)|who]]</code> {{endash}} Reports logged-in users
* <code>[[whoami]]</code> {{endash}} Reports the effective [[userid]]
* <code>[[yes (Unix)|yes]]</code> {{endash}} Outputs a string repeatedly
* <code>[</code> {{endash}} Synonym for [[test (Unix)|test]] that enables expressions like <code>[ ''expression'' ]</code> <!-- DO NOT REMOVE THE SPACE AFTER '[' as it's required for command-line syntax -->

==History==
In 1990, David MacKenzie announced ''GNU fileutils''.<ref>{{cite web |title=GNU file utilities release 1.0 |url=https://groups.google.com/g/gnu.utils.bug/c/CviP42X_hCY/m/YssXFn-JrX4J |website=groups.google.com}}</ref>

In 1991, MacKenzie announced ''GNU shellutils'' and ''GNU textutils''.<ref>{{cite web |title=GNU shell programming utilities released |url=https://groups.google.com/g/gnu.utils.bug/c/xpTRtuFpNQc/m/mRc_7JWZ0BYJ |website=groups.google.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=new GNU file and text utilities released |url=https://groups.google.com/g/gnu.utils.bug/c/iN5KuoJYRhU/m/V_6oiBAWF0EJ |website=groups.google.com}}</ref> Moreover, Jim Meyering became the maintainer of the packages (known now as coreutils) and has remained so since.<ref>{{cite web |title=GNU's Who |url=https://www.gnu.org/people/people.html#j}}</ref>

In September 2002, the ''GNU coreutils'' were created by merging the earlier packages ''textutils'', ''shellutils'', and ''fileutils'', along with some other miscellaneous utilities.<ref name=merge>{{cite web
| url=https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/tree/README-package-renamed-to-coreutils
| title=README-package-renamed-to-coreutils
| first=Jim
| last=Meyering
| date=2003-01-13
| access-date=2018-08-15
| archive-date=2019-12-25
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225234638/https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/tree/README-package-renamed-to-coreutils
| url-status=live
}}</ref> 

In July 2007, the license of the GNU coreutils was updated from [[GNU General Public License#Version 2|GPL-2.0-or-later]] to [[GNU General Public License#Version 3|GPL-3.0-or-later]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/commit/COPYING?id=5f606e6f1f0552c8af7b9cfbbafe3aad048bb99e
| title=COPYING: Update to Version 3.
| first=Jim
| last=Meyering
| date=2007-07-23
| access-date=2018-08-15
| archive-date=2019-12-25
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225234638/https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/commit/COPYING%3Fid%3D5f606e6f1f0552c8af7b9cfbbafe3aad048bb99e
| url-status=live
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

* {{Annotated link|GNOME Core Applications}}
* {{Annotated link|GNU Binutils}}
* {{Annotated link|List of GNU packages}}
* {{Annotated link|List of KDE applications}}
* {{Annotated link|List of POSIX commands}}
* {{Annotated link|List of Unix daemons}}
* {{Annotated link|List of web browsers for Unix and Unix-like operating systems}}
* {{Annotated link|Toybox}}
* {{Annotated link|Unix philosophy}}
* {{Annotated link|util-linux}}

<!--==Notes==
{{notelist}}
-->

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{wikibooks|Guide to UNIX|Commands}}
* {{Official website|https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/}}
* [https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/index.html Manual]
* [https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/coreutils.git/tree/README?h=v8.27#n8/ README]
* [https://heirloom.sourceforge.net/tools.html The Heirloom Toolchest] - An alternative set of utilities
* [https://opensource.com/article/18/4/gnu-core-utilities opensource.com article: gnu-core-utilities on  4 Apr 2018  by David Both (Correspondent) ]
* [http://bhami.com/rosetta.html Rosetta Stone For *Nix] &ndash; configurable list of equivalent programs for *nix systems.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20240806230502/https://roesler-ac.de/wolfram/acro/ The Unix Acronym List] &ndash; explains the names of many Unix commands.
* [http://unix.org/ The UNIX System Homepage]

{{GNU}}
{{Core Utilities commands}}
{{Unix commands}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gnu Core Utilities}}
[[Category:Free software programmed in C]]
[[Category:Free system software]]
[[Category:GNU Project software|Core Utilities]]
[[Category:Unix software]]
[[Category:Lists of software|Unix programs]]
[[Category:System administration]]
[[Category:Unix SUS2008 utilities| ]]