column from util-linux

this time, turn a cluttered text file or terminal output to a neat table without any hassle.

How to use it for daily use?

For example, if you have text file or want to dump system config whose contents are separated by a delimiter (colon : or comma ,), just shoot it using parameters -t (table) and -s (separator):

# combine column with cat
cat /etc/passwd | column -t -s ':'

# if use grep (my preference)
grep ':' /etc/passwd | column -t -s ':'

• -t: automatically determine number of column and adjusts width so that they are evenly aligned
• -s ':': tell column that divider between columns is a two-point character

1. Dizzy use cases [ ¬_¬ ]

1. checking environment variables:

# if you want to print all environment
printenv | column -t -s '='

# combine with head command (optional)
printenv | head -n 7 | column -t -s '='

output:

FNM_ARCH             x64
EDITOR               nvim
FNM_DIR              /home/nan/.local/share/fnm
GPG_TTY              /dev/pts/11
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP  niri
VSSCRIPT_PATH        /usr/lib/python3.14/site-packages/vapoursynth/libvsscript.so
LOGNAME              nan

neat results, variable names on left, value on right

2. read CSV/Custom config file:

column -t -s ',' your-file.csv

2. Best case: consistent delimiter (/etc/passwd)

without column (raw output with tight : delimiter):

head -n 4 /etc/passwd

output:

root:x:0:0::/root:/usr/bin/bash
bin:x:1:1::/:/usr/bin/nologin
daemon:x:2:2::/:/usr/bin/nologin
mail:x:8:12::/var/spool/mail:/usr/bin/nologin

After combine with column -t -s ':':

head -n 4 /etc/passwd | column -t -s ':'

output:

root    x  0  0     /root            /usr/bin/bash
bin     x  1  1     /                /usr/bin/nologin
daemon  x  2  2     /                /usr/bin/nologin
mail    x  8  12    /var/spool/mail  /usr/bin/nologin