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| Chapter 2 UNIX Commands |

## paste

    paste [options] files

Merge corresponding lines of one or more `files` into vertical columns, separated by a tab. See also cut, join, newform, and pr.

### Options

-

  Replace a filename with the standard input.

-d'`char`'

  Separate columns with `char` instead of a tab. `char` can be any regular character or the following escape sequences:

  \n

    Newline

  \t

    Tab

  \

    Backslash

  \0

    Empty String

  Note: You can separate columns with different characters by supplying more than one `char`.

-s

  Merge subsequent lines from one file.

### Examples

Create a three-column `file` from files `x`, `y`, and `z`:

>     paste x y z > file

List users in two columns:

>     who | paste - -

Merge each pair of lines into one line:

>     paste -s -d"\t\n" list

Reference: passwd |  | Reference: pcat