linux_wiki:sed

Sed

General Information

Stream editor tips and tricks.

Checklist

  • Distro(s): Any
  • Package: 'sed' package installed

Print Lines

Different ways to print specific lines.

Print only line 5 pattern space

sed -n '5p' /etc/passwd
  • -n ⇒ silent; do not print the entire file

Line 5, don't delete it

sed '5!d' /etc/passwd
  • !d ⇒ don't delete

Print up to line 5, quit and delete the rest of the output

sed '5q;d' /etc/passwd
  • q ⇒ quit/stop processing more input
  • d ⇒ delete the pattern space (removes all but line 5 from output)

Swap Patterns

Edit files by swapping pattern spaces.

  • Before
    cat /etc/resolv.conf 
    # Generated by NetworkManager
    search local
    nameserver 208.67.222.222
    nameserver 208.67.220.220
  • After
    sed -i 's/208.67.222.222/8.8.8.8/g' /etc/resolv.conf 
    # Generated by NetworkManager
    search local
    nameserver 8.8.8.8
    nameserver 208.67.220.220
    • -i ⇒ In-line editing
    • s ⇒ swap
    • g ⇒ global swap (swap every match, not just the first one)

Insert Lines

Insert lines before a found matched pattern.

Given the contents of /etc/resolv.conf:

# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 192.168.1.254

Insert a new DNS entry that will be checked first:

sed -i '/nameserver/ i\nameserver 8.8.8.8' /etc/resolv.conf
  • /nameserver/ ⇒ pattern to match
  • -i ⇒ in-line editing (changes the file in place)
  • i\ ⇒ insert

Results in:

# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 192.168.1.254

Insert also works against line numbers.

Insert a new comment at line 1:

sed -i '1 i\# My first line comment' /etc/resolv.conf

Results in:

# My first line comment
# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 192.168.1.254

Append Lines

Append lines after a found matched pattern.

Given the contents of /etc/resolv.conf:

# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 192.168.1.254

Append a new DNS entry that will be checked 2nd:

sed -i '/nameserver 8.8.8.8/ a\nameserver 8.8.4.4' /etc/resolv.conf

Results in:

# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4
nameserver 192.168.1.254

Remove Lines

Remove lines that match a pattern.

Given /etc/resolv.conf:

# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4
nameserver 192.168.1.254

Remove the 8.8.4.4 entry:

sed -i '/8.8.4.4/d' /etc/resolv.conf

Results in:

# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 192.168.1.254

  • linux_wiki/sed.txt
  • Last modified: 2019/05/25 23:50
  • (external edit)