snippetbashTip

csplit — Split a file into pieces. This generates files named `xx00`, `xx01`, and so on. More information: <h

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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linux

Problem

How to use the csplit command: Split a file into pieces. This generates files named xx00, xx01, and so on. More information: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/csplit-invocation.html>.

Solution

csplit — Split a file into pieces. This generates files named xx00, xx01, and so on. More information: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/csplit-invocation.html>.

Split a file in two parts, starting the second one at line 10:

csplit {{path/to/file}} 10

Split a file in three parts, starting the latter parts in lines 7 and 23:

csplit {{path/to/file}} 7 23

Start a new part at every 5th line (will fail if number of lines is not divisible by 5):

csplit {{path/to/file}} 5 {*}

Start a new part at every 5th line, ignoring exact-division error:

csplit {{[-k|--keep-files]}} {{path/to/file}} 5 {*}

Split a file above line 5 and use a custom prefix for the output files (default is xx):

csplit {{path/to/file}} 5 {{[-f|--prefix]}} {{prefix}}

Split a file above the first line matching a regex pattern:

csplit {{path/to/file}} /{{regex}}/

Code Snippets

Split a file in two parts, starting the second one at line 10

csplit {{path/to/file}} 10

Split a file in three parts, starting the latter parts in lines 7 and 23

csplit {{path/to/file}} 7 23

Start a new part at every 5th line (will fail if number of lines is not divisible by 5)

csplit {{path/to/file}} 5 {*}

Start a new part at every 5th line, ignoring exact-division error

csplit {{[-k|--keep-files]}} {{path/to/file}} 5 {*}

Split a file above line 5 and use a custom prefix for the output files (default is `xx`)

csplit {{path/to/file}} 5 {{[-f|--prefix]}} {{prefix}}

Context

tldr-pages: linux/csplit

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