LINUX COMMAND ATLAS · COMMAND GUIDE

Linux tail command

Show the last lines of a file. Use -f to follow new lines as they arrive.

GNU Coreutils

Syntax

Command form

tail [OPTION]... [FILE]...

6 options

Option	What it does
`-n, --lines=NUM`	Print the last NUM lines (default 10).
`-c, --bytes=NUM`	Print the last NUM bytes.
`-f, --follow`	Keep reading as the file grows.
`-F`	Follow by name and retry if the file is replaced or recreated.
`-q, --quiet`	Never print file headers.
`-v, --verbose`	Always print file headers.

3 examples

Show the last lines of a file. Use -f to follow new lines as they arrive.

tail -f ./app.log

Show the last 50 lines of a log.

tail -n 50 app.log

Follow a log through rotation or replacement.

tail -F /var/log/app.log

Stop following with Ctrl+C. File rotation behaviour depends on whether the selected follow mode tracks a descriptor or a name.