wc (word, line, character count) in Linux CLI - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

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What does the wc command do in Linux?

The wc command counts the number of lines, words, and bytes in a file or input.

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How do you use wc to count only the number of lines in a file named file.txt?

Use wc -l file.txt. The -l option tells wc to count lines only.

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What option do you use with wc to count only words?

Use the -w option. For example, wc -w file.txt counts words only.

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How can you count characters (including spaces) in a file using wc?

Use the -m option. For example, wc -m file.txt counts characters.

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What output do you get when you run echo "Hello world" | wc?

You get three numbers: lines, words, and bytes. For echo "Hello world", output is 1 2 12 meaning 1 line, 2 words, 12 bytes (including newline).

Which wc option counts only words?

A -l

B -m

C -w

D -c

The -w option counts words only.

What does wc -l file.txt show?

A Number of lines in file.txt

B Number of words in file.txt

C Number of characters in file.txt

D File size in bytes

-l counts lines only.

How do you count characters including spaces with wc?

A -l

B -w

C -s

D -m

-m counts characters including spaces.

What does wc file.txt output by default?

A Lines, words, and bytes counts

B Only lines count

C Only words count

D Only characters count

Without options, wc shows lines, words, and bytes.

What is the output of echo "Hi" | wc -w?

A 2

B 1

C 3

D 0

The echo outputs one word "Hi", so wc -w counts 1.

Explain how to use the wc command to count lines, words, and characters in a file.

Think about what each option counts and how to run wc on a file.

Describe what output you get when running wc without any options on a text input.

Remember the default order: lines, words, bytes.