Mastering the Linux echo Command: Options, Syntax, and Colorful Output Tricks

echo: Output specified strings or variables

Function Description

echo command is used in the shell to print the value of a variable or directly output a specified string. It is extremely common in shell programming and frequently used to display variable values in the terminal.

Command Syntax

echo [options] [arguments]

Option meanings

-n : Do not output the trailing newline.

-e : Enable interpretation of backslash-escaped characters.

When using the -e option, the following escape sequences are recognized:

\a alert (bell)
\b backspace (delete previous character)
\c suppress further output
\f form feed (move to next line, keep cursor)

 newline (move cursor to start of next line)
\r carriage return (move cursor to start of line)
\t horizontal tab
\v vertical tab (same as \f)
\\ backslash

nn octal byte value

Parameter meaning

Parameters refer to variables whose values are to be printed.

Reference examples

Example 1

Print colored text with echo:

// text color:
echo -e "\e[1;31mMy font color is red\e[0m"
My font color is red

// background color:
echo -e "\e[1;42mMy background is green\e[0m"
My background is green

// flashing text:
echo -e "\033[37;34;5mI am blinking blue text\033[39;49;0m"
I am blinking blue text

Example 2

// output variable value
echo $PATH
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/root/bin

// escape $ to prevent variable expansion
echo \$PATH
$PATH

// execute command substitution and print result
echo `date`
Wed Sep 22 20:44:21 CST 2021

// redirect output to a file
echo "www.linuxyz.cn" > www.html

// output with newline characters
echo -e "1
2
3"
1
2
3

// output with tab characters
echo -e "1\t2\t3"
1       2       3