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# The `head` command
The `head` command prints the first ten lines of a file.
Example:
```
head filename.txt
```
Syntax:
```
head [OPTION] [FILENAME]
```
### Get a specific number of lines:
Use the `-n` option with a number (should be an integer) of lines to display.
Example:
```
head -n 10 foo.txt
```
This command will display the first ten lines of the file `foo.txt`.
Syntax:
```
head -n <number> foo.txt
```
### Additional Flags and their Functionalities
|**Short Flag** |**Long Flag** |**Description** |
|:---|:---|:---|
|`-c`|`--bytes=[-]NUM`|Print the first NUM bytes of each file; <br>with the leading '-', <br>print all but the last NUM bytes of each file|
|`-n`|`--lines=[-]NUM`|Print the first NUM lines instead of the first 10;<br> with the leading '-', <br>print all but the last NUM lines of each file|
|`-q`|`--quiet, --silent`|Never print headers giving file names|
|`-v`|`--verbose`|Always print headers giving file names|
|`-z`|`--zero-terminated`|Line delimiter is NUL, not newline|
|` `|`--help`| Display this help and exit|
|` `|`--version`|Output version information and exit|