## 12.2. Command-Line Syntax

The syntax for invoking sed has two forms:

>     sed [options] 'command' file(s)

>     sed [options] -f scriptfile file(s)

The first form allows you to specify an editing command on the command line, surrounded by single quotes. The second form allows you to specify a scriptfile, a file containing sed commands. If no files are specified, sed reads from standard input.

The following options are recognized:

-e cmd

  Next argument is an editing command; not needed unless specifying two or more editing commands.

-f scriptfile

  Next argument is a file containing editing commands.

-n

  Suppress the default output; sed displays only those lines specified with the p command or with the p flag of the s command.

-V

  Display version number.

--quiet

  Same as -n.

--expression=cmd

  Same as -e.

--file=file

  Same as -f.

--help

  Display brief help message with command-line options.

--silent

  Same as -n.

--version

  Same as -V.

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