dc command in Linux is used to evaluate arithmetic expressions. It evaluates expressions in the form of a postfix expression. Entering a number pushes it into the stack and entering an operator evaluates an expression and pushes the result back into the stack. It can evaluate +, -, /, *, %, ^. Different commands can be used to manipulate stack.
Syntax:
dc [OPTION] [file ...]
Below table illustrate the different commands and their explanation:
| Command | Operation |
|---|---|
| p | Prints the value on the top of the stack and ends the statement with a newline. |
| n | Prints the value on the top of the stack and ends the line with a null statement. |
| f | Prints the entire stack, without any alteration. |
| P | Pops the value from the top of the stack. |
| c | Clear the stack. |
| d | Duplicates the top value and push it into the main stack. |
| r | Reverses the order of top two elements in the stack. |
| Z | Pops the value from the stack, calculate the number of digits in it and pushes that number. |
| X | Pops the value from the stack, calculate the number of fraction digits in it and pushes that number. |
| z | Pushes the stack length into the stack. |
| i | Pops the value from the stack and uses it as input radix. |
| o | Pops the value from the stack and uses it as output radix. |
| k | Pops the values from the stack and uses it to set precision. |
| I | Pushes the value of input radix into the stack. |
| O | Pushes the value of output radix into the stack |
| K | Pushes the precision value into the stack. |
Example 1:
Example 2:
Note: In second example, the output changes because we changed the output-radix.
Options:
-
expression : This command is used to evaluate a particular expression.
-
file : This command is used to evaluate the contents of the file.
-
help : This command displays help information.
-
version: This command is used to display version information.