The sort command is used to sort the contents of a file. You can sort the data in a text file and display the output on the screen, or redirect it to a file. Based on your requirement, sort provides several command-line options for sorting data in a text file.
Syntax:
sort [options] filename
Examples:
#1 To sort text file [sort sort_file]
#2 To sort numbers in file, use -n option [sort -n sort_number_file]
#3 To sort months in file, use -M option [sort -M sort_month_file]
Refer below tables for more sort command options:
| -b | Ignores leading spaces in each line |
| -d | Uses dictionary sort order. Conisders only spaces and alphanumeric characters in sorting |
| -f | Uses case insensitive sorting. |
| -M | Sorts based on months. Either mention complete month name or only first 3 letters. Eg: JAN, FEB |
| -n | Uses numeric sorting |
| -R | Sorts the input file randomly. |
| -r | Reverse order sorting |
| -k | Sorts file based on the data in the specified field positions. |
| -u | Suppresses duplicate lines |
| -t | input field separator |