TL;DR
To count lines in file Linux, you can try these methods:
Command Line Method: wc
Command
- Open the command prompt.
- Navigate to the directory with your file using
cd path/to/directory
. - Run the command
wc -l filename
, replacingfilename
with your file’s name. - The tool will display the line count.
GUI Methods: Sublime Text Editor
- Right-click on the file you want to open.
- Select Open with other applications and choose Sublime Text.
- Open the file in Sublime Text.
- Navigate to the bottom of the file to view the total number of lines.
Read the guide below to learn different methods to count lines in file Linux, common errors that can occur during the process and benefits of counting the number of lines in a file.
Have you ever needed to count the number of lines in a file but weren’t sure where to start? Whether you’re handling a small text file or a massive data log, I’m here to help. In this post, I’ll guide you through various tools and techniques, from command-line utilities like wc
and awk
to text editors, programming languages, and online tools. You’ll get step-by-step instructions for each method, tips for handling large files efficiently, and solutions for common errors. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to count lines in any file quickly and accurately.
How to Count Lines in File Linux
To count lines in file Linux, you can use several methods depending on your tools and preferences. For a quick and easy command-line solution, use wc -l filename
to get the line count. Alternatively, you can use awk 'END {print NR}' filename
or sed -n '$=' filename
for similar results. If you prefer scripting, a simple Python script can read and count lines efficiently. Text editors like Sublime Text also provide built-in line counting features. Choose the method that best fits your workflow and file size.
Here is the detailed step-by-step guide for 8 different methods to count lines in file Linux:
1. wc Command
Command-line tools like wc command provide a quick and automated way to count lines in a file. They are known for their speed and suitability for large-scale line-counting tasks. Command-line tools offer a straightforward and efficient approach to line counting, especially when dealing with large datasets.To Linux line count using wc, follow these easy steps:
- Open the command prompt on your computer.

- Navigate to the directory where the file is located by using the cd command followed by the path to the directory.

- Once you are in the desired directory, execute the following command:
wc -l filename
Replace filename with the actual name of the file you want to count lines for.
- The tool will display the line count along with other information, such as the number of words and characters in the file.

2. Counting Lines with awk
awk is a powerful text processing tool in Unix/Linux that is primarily used for pattern scanning and processing. It is especially useful for extracting and reporting specific parts of file content. One of its many capabilities includes counting the number of lines in a file efficiently.
- Open your terminal.
- Run the following command to count line:
awk 'END {print NR}' filename
Replace filename with the name of your file.
The command will output the total number of lines in the file.

- To count lines in multiple files:
awk 'FNR==1{print ""; print FILENAME} {print FNR, $0}' file1 file2
This example prints the filename followed by each line number and content for multiple files.

3. Using sed for Line Counting
sed is a stream editor used to perform basic text transformations on an input stream (a file or input from a pipeline). It is commonly used for text substitution and deletion. It can also be used to count lines in a file.
- Access your command window and run the following command to count lines:
sed -n '$=' filename
Replace filename with the name of your file. The command will output the total number of lines in the file.

4. Line Counting with grep
grep is a command-line utility used for searching plain-text data sets for lines that match a regular expression. While it is primarily used for searching, it can also be adapted to count lines.
- Launch your Terminal and execute the following command:
grep -c '' filename
Replace filename with the name of your file.

5. Using perl for Counting Lines
perl is a highly capable, feature-rich programming language with over 30 years of development. It excels at text processing and is used extensively for system administration, web development, and network programming.
- In your Terminal, run the perl command to count lines:
perl -lne 'END {print $.}' filename
Replace filename with the name of your file.

6. Sublime Text Editor
Many text editors and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) come equipped with built-in line-counting features, making line counting even more accessible. These tools provide line-counting capabilities and offer customization options for enhanced file management and manipulation. To count lines in file Linux using Sublime Text, follow these user-friendly steps:
- Right-click on the file you want to open and select open with other applications.

- Open text file with Sublime Text.

- Navigate to the bottom of the file to view the total number of lines in the file.

7. Using Python Script
Programming languages like Python programmable solutions for line counting. By utilizing the file handling capabilities of these languages, you can easily count lines in a file. Follow these steps to count lines in file python:
- To count the numbers of lines in a file, create following script :
line_count = 0
with open('filename') as file:
for line in file:
line_count += 1
print("Line count:", line_count)
Replace filename in the code with the actual name of the file you want to count lines for.

- Run the Python script and the program will open the file, iterate through each line, and increment the
line_count
variable.

8. Online Tools and APIs
Online tools and APIs provide a convenient way to count lines in a file without installing or programming. Online line-counting tools are particularly helpful when you don’t have access to command-line tools or prefer a browser-based solution for line-counting tasks. Here is a step-by-step guide to using the online tool to count lines in a file:
- Visit the website of the online line counting tool (PREPOSTSEO) you prefer.

- Paste the text file of which you want to count the number of lines in the given text box.The online tool will process the text and display the line count along with any additional information or statistics, depending on the tool.

Counting Lines in Large Files Efficiently
Counting lines in large files can be tricky due to their size. Here are some common problems you might face:
- Memory Usage: Large files can use a lot of memory, slowing down your system.
- Processing Time: It takes longer to read and process large files, especially if they have millions of lines.
- System Load: Running commands on large files can strain your CPU and disk, affecting the performance of other tasks.
Best Practices for Efficient Line Counting
To count lines in large files efficiently, follow these best practices:
- Use the
wc
Command: Thewc
(word count) command is simple and optimized for performance. It reads the file line-by-line without loading it all into memory. For example, you can usewc -l largefile.txt
to quickly count lines and print the total. - Use
pv
for Progress Monitoring: Thepv
(pipe viewer) command shows the progress of data through a pipeline. It’s helpful for large files to see the processing status. You can use it withwc
like this:pv largefile.txt | wc -l
to monitor progress while counting lines. - Process in Chunks with
split
: If a file is too big, split it into smaller chunks. Use thesplit
command to break it into manageable parts, for example,split -l 1000000 largefile.txt part_
. This splitslargefile.txt
into chunks of 1,000,000 lines each. Then, count lines in each chunk usingwc -l part_*
. - Use Efficient Tools Like
awk
orsed
: Tools likeawk
andsed
can handle large files efficiently because they process data streamingly. For instance,awk 'END {print NR}' largefile.txt
counts lines without high memory usage. - Avoid Loading Entire File into Memory: Make sure your method reads the file line-by-line instead of loading it all into memory. Commands like
wc
,awk
, andsed
do this naturally, ensuring efficient use of memory and processing power.
Linux Count Lines in File: Wrapping Up
In this article, I’ve explored several methods to count lines in a file using tools like wc
, awk
, sed
, grep
, and scripting languages like Python and Perl. I have also discussed handling large files efficiently, ensuring minimal system resource usage, and troubleshooting common errors to ensure accurate results.
For further learning, I recommend:
- An article on listing files recursively in Linux, to help you understand how to list all files in directories and subdirectories.
- Exploring methods to set and remove special file permissions in Linux, which is crucial for managing file security and access.
- A guide on encrypting files in Linux, providing you with the best methods to secure your data.