What is the purpose of the 'echo' command?

The 'echo' command in Linux is primarily used to display a line of text or a string to the terminal. It outputs whatever is provided as an argument, making it a useful tool for script debugging or simply for providing information to the user. For example, when you execute echo "Hello, World!", the terminal will output the text "Hello, World!" directly to the screen.

This functionality allows users to quickly display values of variables, helpful for both interactive use and shell scripting, where visual feedback is needed to ensure that commands are executing as intended. The versatility of the 'echo' command is evident in its use alongside other commands within pipelines, where it can pass data through the system.

While 'echo' can also have additional features, such as formatting output or enabling escape sequences, its primary purpose remains the straightforward display of text. The other options provided refer to different commands or functionalities within the Linux environment, which do not align with the primary role of 'echo'.