Man pages › Compared with Linux and the BSDs

`head(1)` on Solnix vs Linux and the BSDs

On Solnix, head is the illumos /usr/bin/head, which accepts -n, -c, -q, -v and the historic -number. The main difference for Linux and BSD users is that the illumos page documents no negative counts (all but the last NUM) and no size suffixes for /usr/bin/head. It also gives -v and -q their own meaning only as in the BSDs and GNU, and OpenBSD has neither.

The manual pages

Solnix: head(1) from pkgs.solnix.illumos-world-man · illumos.org
Linux: head(1) coreutils-full-9.11
FreeBSD: head(1) 15.1-RELEASE
OpenBSD: head(1) 8.0
NetBSD: head(1) 11.0
Standard: POSIX.1-2024 (IEEE Std 1003.1-2024), head

What Solnix runs

A default Solnix system runs the illumos /usr/bin/head. When head is run without a path prefix, the ksh93 built-in may be used instead; the page says it is bound to /bin and /usr/bin. The built-in adds -s skip, long options (--lines, --bytes, --quiet|silent, --skip, --verbose) and b, k, m unit suffixes for -c and -s. /usr/ucb/head is also shipped, but the bundle does not describe it.

Differences

Compared with	Topic	What differs
Linux	negative counts	Linux head `-n` `-NUM` and `-c` `-NUM` print all but the last NUM lines or bytes. The Solnix `/usr/bin/head` page says the number must be a positive decimal integer and documents no negative form. Source: Linux head(1) -c, -n; Solnix head(1) OPTIONS /usr/bin/head -n, -c
Linux, FreeBSD	size suffixes and long options	Linux and FreeBSD accept suffixes on counts and long options such as `--lines` and `--bytes`. The Solnix `/usr/bin/head` page documents neither. Only the ksh93 built-in has long options and b, k, m suffixes for `-c` and `-s`. Source: Linux head(1) NUM multiplier suffix; FreeBSD head(1) -c, -n (expand_number(3)); Solnix head(1) OPTIONS ksh93
all four	`-s` skip option	Solnix has `-s` skip only in the ksh93 built-in, which skips characters or lines before copying. No counterpart page documents `-s`. Source: Solnix head(1) OPTIONS ksh93 -s, --skip; Linux/FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD head(1) SYNOPSIS
OpenBSD	`-c`, `-q`, `-v` missing	OpenBSD head documents only `-n` count and `-count`. A script using `-c`, `-q` or `-v` works on Solnix, Linux, FreeBSD and NetBSD, but the OpenBSD page documents no such option. Source: OpenBSD head(1) SYNOPSIS; Solnix head(1) OPTIONS -c, -q, -v
OpenBSD	header for several files	OpenBSD head prints the ==> file <== header when more than one file is given. The page documents no way to suppress it or to force it for a single file. Solnix has `-q` and `-v` for that. Source: OpenBSD head(1) DESCRIPTION; Solnix head(1) OPTIONS -q, -v
Linux	`-z` and `--silent`	Linux head has `-z` to use NUL as the line delimiter. The Solnix `/usr/bin/head` page has no `-z`. The ksh93 built-in takes `--quiet`\|silent, as Linux does. Source: Linux head(1) -z, --zero-terminated; Solnix head(1) OPTIONS
all four	`-number` syntax	Solnix documents `-number` as equal to `-n` number, so head `-5` works. Linux and FreeBSD do not list it in the options. OpenBSD and NetBSD document the historic syntax. Source: Solnix head(1) OPTIONS -number; OpenBSD head(1) STANDARDS; NetBSD head(1) COMPATIBILITY; Linux head(1) OPTIONS; FreeBSD head(1) SYNOPSIS
all four	multibyte output with `-c`	Solnix warns that head `-c` may end output in the middle of a multi-byte character. The counterpart pages do not mention this. Source: Solnix head(1) OPTIONS -c; Linux/FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD head(1)
FreeBSD, NetBSD	`-c` and `-n` together	The FreeBSD synopsis shows `-n` count and `-c` bytes as alternatives. The NetBSD page says `-c` makes head count bytes instead of lines. The Solnix synopsis lists both options together, and the page does not say what happens if both are given. Source: FreeBSD head(1) SYNOPSIS; NetBSD head(1) DESCRIPTION; Solnix head(1) SYNOPSIS

Standards

POSIX: head is a POSIX.1-2024 utility.
Solnix: /usr/bin/head: Interface Stability Committed; Standard: see standards(7). The ksh93 built-in binding to /bin and /usr/bin is Volatile and the built-in interfaces are Uncommitted.
OpenBSD: head is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification; the historic -count syntax is supported.
NetBSD: head conforms to IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (“POSIX.2”).
Linux: The manual has no standards section in the bundle.
FreeBSD: The manual has no standards section in the bundle.

Writing portable scripts

Use only head -n N with a positive N, plus -c N for bytes where needed. Do not rely on negative counts, size suffixes or long options.
Avoid -q and -v if OpenBSD must be supported. Do not use head -z or -s.

Every difference here is taken from the manual pages linked above: Solnix's published page, Linux (man-pages and the GNU and util-linux manuals), FreeBSD, OpenBSD and NetBSD. Each row names its source. Where a manual is silent, this page is too. Compiled 2026-10-26. Found a mistake? Mail hackers@lists.solnix.io.