You can append text to the end of a file in Linux and bring necessary alterations without even getting into any form of hassle. The process is pretty easy, and while working with files within a Terminal, appending data of any specific command output is super flexible.
Appending refers to a process of bringing additions to an existing file without erasing the current data. The need to append text at the end of any file is not something unusual for many users. Instead, it turns out to be a recurring process in a bunch of scenarios.
Luckily, doing it is not as complex as it sounds. In this article, I’ll walk you through super simple ways in which you can bring the required modifications you need without facing any issues whatsoever.
Best Ways to Append Text to the End of a File in Linux Systems
Having talked about all the necessary things already, let’s now uncover the best ways to append the text at the end of a file in Linux systems. I’ll walk you through multiple methods, so go ahead and choose the one that best fits your requirements and proceed accordingly.
Append Text to the End of a File Using >> Operator
One of the well-known ways that help append text to the end of a file is by employing the >> operator. The primary purpose of this operator is to redirect any output to a specific file. But in case the file you’re looking for doesn’t exist, >> creates a file followed by appending the text to it.
You can use the >> operator alongside the echo, printf, and cat command to seamlessly append the text at the end of a file in Linux. The following example will help you understand better.
Using >> Operator with the echo Command:
To append text to the end of a file using the combination of the echo command and >> operator, follow a format similar to this:
$ echo "Appending Text to the End of a File is Super Easy" >> file.txt
Using >> Operator with the printf Command:
For using the printf command alongside the >> operator, here is what you need to input:
$ printf "Appending Text to the End of a File is Super Easy\n" >> file.txt
Using >> Operator with the cat Command:
Similar to how the >> operator, when used with the echo command and the printf command, helps affixes text to the end of any file, you can also employ the cat command and repeat the same.
Suppose you’re working with two files, i.e., newfile1.txt and newfile2.txt. In that case, run the command in the following format and type the file names.
$ cat newfile1.txt >> newfile2.txt
Remember, don’t ever use > instead of >>, especially when the ultimate goal is appending the text. What the former does is erase the entire data of the target file.
Append Text to the End of a File with the Help of the tee Command
Apart from the >> operator utility, the tee command also brings a brilliant way to append text to the end of a file in Linux operating systems. For those new to the concept of the tee command, it is a feature that works by copying text right from the standard input before eventually writing the same in the standard output.
Although the command doesn’t help append the text on its own when associated with the -a flag, it can help in getting the job done.
Using the tee Command:
Like the >> operator, you can use the echo command or the cat command together with the tee command and append text to the end of a file. I’ll help you learn this with suitable examples.
For echo, use the following command:
$ echo "Appending Text to the End of a File is Super Easy" >> | tee -a file.txt
For the cat, invoke the following command:
$ cat newfile1.txt | tee -a newfile2.txt
Using the sed Command Line Utility
The sed command in Linux, which abbreviates to the popular stream editor, loads up by performing a series of functions on any desired file from searching data to finding, replacing, and even deleting files at will.
One good thing about this utility is that you can append and edit files without even launching them by employing the sed command alongside the -i flag and the concerned text.
Here is what the command should look like:
$ sed -i 'You can Append Text to the End of a File' newfile.txt
arbas19@arbas19-HP-245-G7-Notebook-PC:~$ cat newfile.txt
That’s how you can append text to a file in Linux. In this write-up, I’ve discussed three super-efficient methods that will help you flexibly structure the text file whenever you want to. Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced user, getting the job done will not take more than a minute.
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