cut command CUT command

Select specific field 

$ cut -d':' -f1 /etc/passwd                                             #f1=field1 #d=delimiter

Multiple feilds 

history
 | awk '{$1=$1;print}' | cut -d' ' -f2-       #remove beginning spaces 
and history number , cut -f2- will start printing from 2nd field to last
 

history | awk '{$1=$1;print}' | cut -d' ' -f1-4     # cut -f1-4 will print from field 1 to 4 

$ grep "/bin/bash" /etc/passwd | cut -d':' -f1,6
root:/root
bala:/home/bala

Multiple feilds with defined range

$ grep "/bin/bash" /etc/passwd | cut -d':' -f1-4,6,7

root:x:0:0:/root:/bin/bash
bala:x:1000:1000:/home/bala:/bin/bash 

Example: Usage

[root@mx2 ~]# cat rbllist 
server=cbl.abuseat.org
server=spamtrap.drbl.drand.net
server=spamguard.leadmon.net
server=ix.dnsbl.manitu.net
server=relays.nether.net
server=rbl.orbitrbl.com

[root@mx2 postfix]# cat rbllist | cut -d'=' -f2 | while read line; do echo $line, ; done

cbl.abuseat.org,
spamtrap.drbl.drand.net,
spamguard.leadmon.net,
ix.dnsbl.manitu.net,
relays.nether.net,
rbl.orbitrbl.com,