$ Linux Command

System

cal

Display a calendar in the terminal.

calendardateterminaltime

Additional Notes

cal prints a simple calendar. It can show the current month, a specific month, or a full year depending on arguments and implementation.

Use it for quick date lookup in a terminal.

Syntax

cal [month] [year]
cal [options]

Parameters

  • month: Month number, usually 1 through 12.
  • year: Year to display.
  • options: Layout and calendar controls.

Common Options

  • -3: Show previous, current, and next month on many systems.
  • -y: Show the whole current year.
  • -m MONTH: Show a specific month on some implementations.
  • -A NUM: Show NUM months after the current month on some implementations.
  • -B NUM: Show NUM months before the current month on some implementations.

Examples

cal

Show the current month.

cal 6 2026

Show June 2026.

cal -y

Show the current year.

cal -3

Show three months around the current month when supported.

Practical Notes

  • Option support varies between util-linux and BSD implementations.
  • Use date for formatted current date/time output.
  • Some systems also provide ncal for alternate calendar layouts.