How does the sort Unix command work?

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Understanding the sort Unix Command

1. Overview:

• The sort command in Unix is used to arrange the lines of a text file or the output of a command in a specified order.

2. Basic Syntax:

• The basic syntax of the sort command is as follows:
  bash

• sort [options] [file]

3. Sorting Files:

• Sorting a File:

  • Sorting the contents of a file in ascending order:
    bash

• • sort filename

• Sorting in Descending Order:

  • Using the -r option to sort in descending order:
    bash

• • sort -r filename

4. Sorting Output of Commands:

• Sorting Command Output:

  • Piping the output of a command to sort for sorting:
    bash

• • command | sort

• Sorting Unique Lines:

  • Using the -u option to display only unique lines:
    bash

• • command | sort -u

5. Specifying Fields and Delimiters:

• Sorting Based on a Field:

  • Using the -k option to specify a field for sorting:
    bash

• • sort -k2 filename

• Specifying a Custom Field Separator:

  • Using the -t option to specify a custom field separator (delimiter):
    bash

• • sort -t':' -k3 filename

6. Numeric and Human-Readable Sorting:

• Numeric Sorting:

  • Using the -n option for numeric sorting:
    bash

• • sort -n filename

• Human-Readable Sorting:

  • Using the -h option for human-readable numeric sorting (e.g., 1K, 2M):
    bash

• • sort -h filename

7. Merging Pre-Sorted Files:

• Merging Pre-Sorted Files:
  • Combining multiple sorted files into a single sorted output:
    bash