What does the 'cat' command do in Linux?

The 'cat' command in Linux is primarily used to concatenate and display the contents of one or more files. When you run 'cat' followed by a file name, it reads the file and outputs its content to the standard output, which is typically the terminal. This makes it a useful tool for quickly viewing the contents of text files.

Additionally, 'cat' can also be used to concatenate multiple files together. By specifying more than one file, 'cat' will display the contents of each file in the order they are provided, which can be useful for combining files or for creating new files from existing ones when used in conjunction with redirection.

This command does not list directory contents, change directories, or print the user's name, which distinguishes it from the other given options. Understanding the specific functionality of commands, like 'cat', is crucial for effective navigation and manipulation of files in a Linux environment.