---
title: "bat"
category: "Terminal and shell"
tagline: "cat with syntax highlighting, line numbers and Git changes."
source: "pacman"
package: "bat"
command: "bat"
code: "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat"
---

## What it is

bat prints files to the terminal like `cat`, but with syntax highlighting for most languages, line numbers, and markers for lines changed since the last Git commit. Long files open in a pager so you can scroll.

```
bat script.sh
```

## Why it's here

- **Readable code in the terminal.** Highlighting makes config files and scripts easier to scan.
- **Good previews.** Other tools use it to show file contents, such as fzf's preview pane.

## On CoreDesktop

bat is installed from pacman. Type `bat` in a terminal. CoreDesktop's `ff` alias uses it to preview files while you fuzzy-find them with fzf. `update` keeps bat current along with the rest of the pacman packages.