Lessons · Terminal · sort -k: on which column

Sorting on a column

-k N starts the sort key at field N. It runs to the END of the line unless you name a stop, which is what -k2,2 means.

Hone is a place to practise programming. This is one of its lessons, written out in full and free to read without an account.

What it is for

Real data is columns and the interesting one is rarely the first.

-k2 -n for a number in the second column; -k2,2 when a third column should not break ties.

sort -k2 people.txt

By the second field, as text: 200, 30, 4.

sort -k2 -n people.txt

As numbers: 4, 30, 200.

sort -k2,2 -n people.txt

Same here, and immune to a third column.

Sort app.log on its second column.

sort 2 app.log

-k2 means from field two onwards. On a line with three columns it is not the same sort as -k2,2, and the difference only shows up on ties.

Practise sort -k: on which column on HoneA question on it now, a coding challenge where there is one, and it is remembered for review. Free, no email needed.