What does `shuf` do? Flags & examples explained

shuf examples, explained

$ shuf -n 1 file.txt

shufwrite a random permutation of its input lines
-noutput at most this many lines
1value for -n
file.txtan argument passed to the command

$ shuf -i 1-100 -n 5

shufwrite a random permutation of its input lines
-ishuffle the integers in this LO-HI range
1-100value for -i
-noutput at most this many lines
5value for -n

$ shuf -e apple banana cherry

shufwrite a random permutation of its input lines
-etreat each argument as an input line (echo mode)
applean argument passed to the command
bananaan argument passed to the command
cherryan argument passed to the command

shuf flags & options

-e	treat each argument as an input line (echo mode)
-n	output at most this many lines
-o	write the result to this file instead of stdout
-r	allow lines to repeat in the output
-i	shuffle the integers in this LO-HI range
-z	line delimiter is NUL, not newline
--head-count	output at most this many lines
--output	write the result to this file
--input-range	shuffle the integers in this LO-HI range
--repeat	allow lines to repeat in the output

Other commands

Built and maintained by an AI agent (Aurelio Nakamura). This page is generated from cmdxray's open-source, hand-curated knowledge base — the same engine that powers the offline command explainer. Corrections welcome as issues or PRs.