# List of GNU Core Utilities commands

This is a list of commands from the GNU Core Utilities for Unix environments. These commands can be found on Unix operating systems and most Unix-like operating systems.
GNU Core Utilities include basic file, shell and text manipulation utilities. Coreutils includes all of the basic command-line tools that are expected in a POSIX system.

## List

Source:

### File Utilities

| Name | Description |
| chcon | Changes file security context (SELinux) |
| chgrp | Changes file group ownership |
| chown | Changes file ownership |
| chmod | Changes the permissions of a file or directory |
| cp | Copies a file or directory |
| dd | Copies and converts a file |
| df | Shows disk free space on file systems |
| dir | Is exactly like "ls -C -b". (Files are by default listed in columns and sorted vertically.) |
| dircolors | Set up color for ls |
| install | Copies files and set attributes |
| ln | Creates a link to a file |
| ls | Lists the files in a directory |
| mkdir | Creates a directory |
| mkfifo | Makes named pipes (FIFOs) |
| mknod | Makes block or character special files |
| mktemp | Creates a temporary file or directory |
| mv | Moves files or rename files |
| realpath | Returns the resolved absolute or relative path for a file |
| rm | Removes (deletes) files, directories, device nodes and symbolic links |
| rmdir | Removes empty directories |
| shred | Overwrites a file to hide its contents, and optionally deletes it |
| sync | Flushes file system buffers |
| touch | Changes file timestamps; creates file |
| truncate | Shrink or extend the size of a file to the specified size |
| vdir | Is exactly like "ls -l -b". (Files are by default listed in long format.) |

### Text Utilities

| Name | Description |
| b2sum | Computes and checks BLAKE2b message digest |
| base32 | Encodes or decodes Base32, and prints result to standard output |
| base64 | Encodes or decodes Base64, and prints result to standard output |
| basenc | Encodes or decodes various encodings like Hexadecimal, Base32, Base64, Z85 etc., and prints result to standard output |
| cat | Concatenates and prints files on the standard output |
| cksum | Checksums (IEEE Ethernet CRC-32) and count the bytes in a file. Supersedes other *sum utilities with -a option from version 9.0. |
| comm | Compares two sorted files line by line |
| csplit | Splits a file into sections determined by context lines |
| cut | Removes sections from each line of files |
| expand | Converts tabs to spaces |
| fmt | Simple optimal text formatter |
| fold | Wraps each input line to fit in specified width |
| head | Outputs the first part of files |
| join | Joins lines of two files on a common field |
| md5sum | Computes and checks MD5 message digest |
| nl | Numbers lines of files |
| numfmt | Reformat numbers |
| od | Dumps files in octal and other formats |
| paste | Merges lines of files |
| ptx | Produces a permuted index of file contents |
| pr | Converts text files for printing |
| sha1sum, sha224sum, sha256sum, sha384sum, sha512sum | Computes and checks SHA-1/SHA-2 message digests |
| shuf | generate random permutations |
| sort | sort lines of text files |
| split | Splits a file into pieces |
| sum | Checksums and counts the blocks in a file |
| tac | Concatenates and prints files in reverse order line by line |
| tail | Outputs the last part of files |
| tr | Translates or deletes characters |
| tsort | Performs a topological sort |
| unexpand | Converts spaces to tabs |
| uniq | Removes duplicate lines from a sorted file |
| wc | Prints the number of bytes, words, and lines in files |

### Shell Utilities

| Name | Description |
| arch | Prints machine hardware name (same as uname -m) |
| basename | Removes the path prefix from a given pathname |
| chroot | Changes the root directory |
| date | Prints or sets the system date and time |
| dirname | Strips non-directory suffix from file name |
| du | Shows disk usage on file systems |
| echo | Displays a specified line of text |
| env | Displays and modifies environment variables |
| expr | Evaluates expressions |
| factor | Factors numbers |
| false | Does nothing, but exits unsuccessfully |
| groups | Prints the groups of which the user is a member |
| hostid | Prints the numeric identifier for the current host |
| id | Prints real or effective UID and GID |
| link | Creates a link to a file |
| logname | Print the user's login name |
| nice | Modifies scheduling priority |
| nohup | Allows a command to continue running after logging out |
| nproc | Queries the number of (active) processors |
| pathchk | Checks whether file names are valid or portable |
| pinky | A lightweight version of finger |
| printenv | Prints environment variables |
| printf | Formats and prints data |
| pwd | Prints the current working directory |
| readlink | Displays value of a symbolic link |
| runcon | Run command with specified security context |
| seq | Prints a sequence of numbers |
| sleep | Delays for a specified amount of time |
| stat | Returns data about an inode |
| stdbuf | Controls buffering for commands that use stdio |
| stty | Changes and prints terminal line settings |
| tee | Sends output to multiple files |
| test | Evaluates an expression |
| timeout | Run a command with a time limit |
| true | Does nothing, but exits successfully |
| tty | Prints terminal name |
| uname | Prints system information |
| unlink | Removes the specified file using the unlink function |
| uptime | Tells how long the system has been running |
| users | Prints the user names of users currently logged into the current host |
| who | Prints a list of all users currently logged in |
| whoami | Prints the effective userid |
| yes | Prints a string repeatedly |
| [ | A synonym for test; this program permits expressions like [ expression ]. |