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ZCAT(1) User Commands ZCAT(1) NAME zcat - decompress and concatenate files to standard output SYNOPSIS zcat [options] [files] DESCRIPTION zcat copies each file argument to standard output in sequence. If any file given is compressed, its decompressed content is copied. If a file given does not exist, and its name does not end with one of the known extensions, zcat tries the compressed file names corresponding to the formats supported until one is found. If a file fails to decompress, zcat continues copying the rest of the files. If a file is specified as '-', data are read from standard input, decom- pressed if needed, and sent to standard output. Data read from standard in- put must be of the same type; all uncompressed or all in the same com- pressed format. If no files are specified, recursive searches examine the current working directory, and nonrecursive searches read standard input. The formats supported are bzip2, gzip, lzip, xz, and zstd. OPTIONS -h, --help display this help and exit -V, --version output version information and exit -A, --show-all equivalent to '-vET' -b, --number-nonblank number nonblank output lines -c, --stdout ignored, for gzip compatibility -d, --decompress ignored, for gzip compatibility -e equivalent to '-vE' -E, --show-ends display '$' at end of each line -M, --format=<list> process only the formats in <list> -n, --number number all output lines -N, --no-rcfile don't read runtime configuration file -O, --force-format=<fmt> force the input format -q, --quiet suppress all messages -r, --recursive operate recursively on directories -R, --dereference-recursive recursively follow symbolic links -s, --squeeze-blank never more than one single blank line -t equivalent to '-vT' -T, --show-tabs display TAB characters as '^I' -v, --show-nonprinting use '^' and 'M-' notation, except for LF and TAB --verbose verbose mode (show error messages) -x, --exclude=<pattern> exclude files matching a shell pattern --bz2=<command> set compressor and options for bzip2 format --gz=<command> set compressor and options for gzip format --lz=<command> set compressor and options for lzip format --xz=<command> set compressor and options for xz format --zst=<command> set compressor and options for zstd format Valid formats for options '-M' and '-O' are 'bz2', 'gz', 'lz', 'xz', 'zst', and 'un' for uncompressed. EXIT STATUS 0 if no errors occurred, 1 otherwise. REPORTING BUGS Report bugs to zutils-bug@nongnu.org Zutils home page: http://www.nongnu.org/zutils/zutils.html COPYRIGHT Copyright (C) 2026 Antonio Diaz Diaz. License GPLv2+: GNU GPL version 2 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html> This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. SEE ALSO The full documentation for zcat is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and zcat programs are properly installed at your site, the command info zutils should give you access to the complete manual. zutils 1.16 February 2026 ZCAT(1)
NAME | SYNOPSIS | DESCRIPTION | OPTIONS | EXIT STATUS | REPORTING BUGS | COPYRIGHT | SEE ALSO
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