{"id":15770,"date":"2019-03-04T09:49:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-04T09:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/?p=15770"},"modified":"2026-03-10T09:30:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:30:47","slug":"how-to-use-tail-command","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-use-tail-command\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Linux tail command? how to use it with the head command?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The tail<\/strong> command in Linux prints the last N lines of a given file. By default, it shows the last 10 lines. When used with multiple files, tail displays each file’s output preceded by its file name.<\/p>

System administrators commonly combine it with other Linux commands like sort<\/strong> or rm<\/strong> to manipulate the output. Moreover, they can add various options to modify the utility’s behavior based on the tasks.<\/p>

To help improve your virtual private server (VPS) management efficiency, this article will explain Linux tail<\/strong> command basics. We will provide its syntax, share practical examples, and demonstrate how to combine it with the head <\/strong>utility.<\/p>

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\n What is the tail command?\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

The tail<\/strong> command outputs the last few lines of specified files, defaulting to ten lines unless adjusted by the user. It’s frequently used for tracking log files and monitoring real-time updates. System administrators often combine it with other commands via pipes to customize the output. When no file is specified, it reads from standard input, and users can define the number of lines or bytes to display.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Syntax of the tail command<\/h3>

By default, tail<\/strong> displays the 10 last lines of a file. Here’s the basic syntax:<\/p>

tail [file_name]<\/pre>
You can use several options for customizing tail<\/strong> output. Here are some of the most popular ones with their long form and functions:<\/p>