# man > col4(1)

---
type: CommandReference
command: col1
mode: man
section: 1
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference

- `col3` — print third column (default whitespace separator)
- `col7 :` — print seventh column with colon separator
- `NF :` — print last field with colon separator
- `col1` — print first column (default whitespace separator)

## Name

col1 .. col9, NF - awk and print a column (based on the name of the program, 1-9)

## Synopsis

`col1 [SEPARATOR]`

`col2`-`col9` are symlinks to `col1`; behavior changes based on the name called.  
`NF` prints the last field.

## Description

**col1** is a simple script that splits and prints a given column, where the column number is the name of the program (col1-col9). NF prints the last field. The program takes one optional argument: the input field separator (whitespace, by default).

## Options

- `SEPARATOR` — input field separator; defaults to whitespace

## Examples

shell
mount | col3
shell
cat /etc/passwd | col7 :
shell
cat /etc/passwd | NF :
## See Also

[awk(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/awk/1/markdown)