# man > col5(1)

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

## Quick Reference

- `mount | col3` — print the 3rd field of mount output
- `cat /etc/passwd | col7 :` — print the 7th field of /etc/passwd using `:` as separator
- `cat /etc/passwd | NF :` — print the last field of /etc/passwd using `:` as separator

## Name

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

## Synopsis

`col1 [SEPARATOR]`

`col2` .. `col9` and `NF` are symlinks to `col1`; behavior changes based on the name called.

## Options

- `SEPARATOR` — optional input field separator (default: 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)