How to Use Head Command in Linux: Syntax and Examples

The head command in Linux shows the first part of a file or input, usually the first 10 lines by default. You can specify the number of lines with -n or bytes with -c options to control the output.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the head command is:

• head [options] [file]

Where:

• options control how many lines or bytes to show.
• file is the name of the file to read. If omitted, head reads from standard input.

Common options include:

• -n N: Show the first N lines.
• -c N: Show the first N bytes.

bash

head -n 5 filename.txt

Example

This example shows how to display the first 3 lines of a file named example.txt. It helps you quickly see the start of a file without opening the whole content.

bash

head -n 3 example.txt

Output

Line 1: Introduction to Linux
Line 2: Using basic commands
Line 3: Understanding files

Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes when using head include:

• Forgetting to specify the number of lines with -n and expecting a different default than 10 lines.
• Using head on a binary file without -c, which can produce unreadable output.
• Not providing a file or input, which causes head to wait for input from the keyboard.

Correct usage example:

head -n 5 file.txt

Incorrect usage example (waiting for input):

head

Quick Reference

Option	Description
-n N	Show first N lines of the file
-c N	Show first N bytes of the file
-q	Suppress headers when multiple files are shown
-v	Always show headers with file names

Key Takeaways

Use head to quickly view the first lines of a file or input.

Specify the number of lines with -n or bytes with -c options.

If no file is given, head reads from standard input until interrupted.

Default output is the first 10 lines if no options are specified.

Avoid using head on binary files without -c to prevent unreadable output.