OS Manuals

/usr/bin/cksum

GNU core utilities

From coreutils 9.12-r7 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running cksum --help (exit 0). permalink

Also provided by 1 other package version
Usage: /usr/bin/cksum [OPTION]... [FILE]...
Print or verify checksums.
By default use the 32 bit CRC algorithm.

With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
  -a, --algorithm=TYPE
         select the digest type to use.  See DIGEST below
      --base64
         emit base64-encoded digests, not hexadecimal
  -c, --check
         read checksums from the FILEs and check them
  -l, --length=BITS
         digest length in bits; must not exceed the max size
         and must be a multiple of 8 for blake2b;
         must be 224, 256, 384, or 512 for sha2 or sha3
      --raw
         emit a raw binary digest, not hexadecimal
      --tag
         create a BSD-style checksum (the default)
      --untagged
         create a reversed style checksum, without digest type
  -z, --zero
         end each output line with NUL, not newline,
         and disable file name escaping

The following five options are useful only when verifying checksums:
      --ignore-missing
         don't fail or report status for missing files
      --quiet
         don't print OK for each successfully verified file
      --status
         don't output anything, status code shows success
      --strict
         exit non-zero for improperly formatted checksum lines
  -w, --warn
         warn about improperly formatted checksum lines
      --debug
         indicate which implementation used
      --help
         display this help and exit
      --version
         output version information and exit

DIGEST determines the digest algorithm and default output format:
  sysv      (equivalent to sum -s)
  bsd       (equivalent to sum -r)
  crc       (equivalent to cksum)
  crc32b    (only available through cksum)
  md5       (equivalent to md5sum)
  sha1      (equivalent to sha1sum)
  sha2      (equivalent to sha{224,256,384,512}sum)
  sha3      (only available through cksum)
  blake2b   (equivalent to b2sum)
  sm3       (only available through cksum)

When checking, the input should be a former output of this program,
or equivalent standalone program.

Report bugs to: <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.
GNU coreutils home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
General help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cksum>
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cksum invocation'
Options (16)
OptionDescriptionSource
-a, --algorithm TYPEselect the digest type to use.help + man
--base64emit base64-encoded digests, not hexadecimalhelp + man
-c, --checkread checksums from the FILEs and check themhelp + man
-l, --length BITSdigest length in bits;help + man
--rawemit a raw binary digest, not hexadecimalhelp + man
--tagcreate a BSD-style checksum (the default)help + man
--untaggedcreate a reversed style checksum, without digest typehelp + man
-z, --zeroend each output line with NUL, not newline, and disable file name escapinghelp + man
--ignore-missingdon't fail or report status for missing fileshelp + man
--quietdon't print OK for each successfully verified filehelp + man
--statusdon't output anything, status code shows successhelp + man
--strictexit non-zero for improperly formatted checksum lineshelp + man
-w, --warnwarn about improperly formatted checksum lineshelp + man
--debugindicate which implementation usedhelp + man
--helpdisplay this help and exithelp + man
--versionoutput version information and exithelp + man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.