| -a--algorithm | 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 | digest length in bits; must not exceed the max for the blake2 algorithm and must be a multiple of 8 |
| --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 |
| --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 |
| 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) |
| sha224 | (equivalent to sha224sum) |
| sha256 | (equivalent to sha256sum) |
| sha384 | (equivalent to sha384sum) |
| sha512 | (equivalent to sha512sum) |
| blake2b | (equivalent to b2sum) |
| sm3 | (only available through cksum) |
NAME
cksum - compute and verify file checksums
SYNOPSIS
cksum [OPTION]... [FILE]...
DESCRIPTION
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 for the blake2 algorithm and must be a multiple of 8
- --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)
- sha224
(equivalent to sha224sum)
- sha256
(equivalent to sha256sum)
- sha384
(equivalent to sha384sum)
- sha512
(equivalent to sha512sum)
- 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.
AUTHOR
Written by Padraig Brady and Q. Frank Xia.
REPORTING BUGS
GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
SEE ALSO
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/cksum> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) cksum invocation'
Packaged by Debian (9.7-3) Copyright © 2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>. This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.