Awk

Description #

Awk is a domain-specific language designed for text processing and data extraction. It is especially powerful for working with column-based data and is widely used in Unix-like environments for report generation, pattern scanning, and scripting.

History #

Awk was developed in 1977 at Bell Labs by Alfred Aho, Peter Weinberger, and Brian Kernighan — the language name derives from their initials (A, W, and K). It became an essential part of Unix toolkits and is known for its concise, expressive syntax tailored for line-by-line data manipulation.

Hello World Code #

BEGIN { print "Hello, World!" }

How to Run #

Option 1: Online

• OneCompiler – Awk
• JDoodle – Awk

Option 2: Local

1. Save the script in a file called hello.awk:

BEGIN { print "Hello, World!" }

Run the script:

awk -f hello.awk

Key Concepts #

• Pattern-action syntax
• Works line-by-line through input files or streams
• Built-in variables like NR, NF, and FS
• Strong string processing capabilities
• Associative arrays (hash maps)
• Regular expression matching
• Field-based data extraction
• Arithmetic and control structures
• Text substitution and formatting
• Integrates with shell pipelines

Try It Online #

• OneCompiler – Awk
• JDoodle – Awk

Fun Facts #

• Awk scripts can often replace full-fledged programs with just a few lines.
• Brian Kernighan used Awk in many examples in his famous Unix programming books.
• GNU Awk (gawk) is the most popular modern implementation, adding extra features.

Resources #

• GNU Awk Manual
• Awk One-Liners Explained
• Awk Tutorial
• Awk on GitHub (GNU)