sort command in Linux/Unix

sort command in Linux allows users to sort the content of text files. sort command prints the result in standard output and users can also write standard output to a file.

Syntax for sort command

sort [option] [filename]

To get help with sort command and display all options available with sort command use sort –help.

sort --help

sort –version displays version information of sort command.

sort --version

Mechanism of sort command

1. Lines starting with a number will be sorted in ascending order. Lines starting with a number go before the lines beginning with a letter.
2. Lines starting with letters will be sorted in ascending alphabetical order. Lines starting with a capital letter (A-Z) go before the lines starting with a small letter (a-z).

Using sort command

1. Sorting text file where all the lines start with a capital letter

sort abc.txt

2. Sorting text file where lines start with a capital letter or small letter

sort UpperLower.txt

3. storing output in new text file

sort abc.txt > output.txt

4. alternatively it can also be used to storing output in new text file

sort -o newoutput.txt abc.txt

5.  display sort output in reverse order

sort -r abc.txt

6. line starting with number

sort 123.txt

7. h

sort 123abc.txt

8. line starting with number and letter

sort -n 123abc.txt

9. reverse sort output for number

sort -nr 123.txt

10. general numeric value

sort -g 123abc.txt

11. sort according to first column

sort -k1 pink.txt

12. sort according to second column

sort -k2 pink.txt

13. sort calender

sort -M calender.txt

14. check for sorted input; do not sort

sort -c sortc.txt

15. remove repeat

sort -u sortu.txt