Difference between n and r?

While working with different languages and operating systems, we often encounter general questions on r and n and their difference. In this article, let’s discuss what r and n and nr combined are.

Differentiate between r and n and nr

• n stands for new-line – n will move the cursor down to a new line
• r stands for carriage return

Both n and r are different characters and were used as end of line terminators in different operating systems.

• n – is the end-of-line terminator for text files in Unix
• r – was previously used as the end-of-line terminator in Mac text files, now n is also used.
• nr -are used to terminate lines in the DOS and Windows text files.

Example Demonstration with MAC

The r moves to the current line’s right, without moving to the next line while n will move to the start of the next line . 

Here, in the below example we are using javascript language for demonstration purposes and the below code is compiled, run in node.js

Using r

let stringVar = "hellor"
for(let i=0;i < 3;i++)
{
  console.log(stringVar);
}

Output:-

hello
hello
hello

Using n

let stringVar = "hellon"
for(let i=0;i < 3;i++)
{
  console.log(stringVar);
}

Output:-

hello

hello

hello

Using nr

let stringVar = "hellonr"
for(let i=0;i < 3;i++)
{
  console.log(stringVar);
}

Output:-

hello

hello

hello

Note that the output is same as with n.

Example Demonstration with LINUX

Using r

let stringVar = "hellor"
for(let i=0;i < 3;i++)
{
  console.log(stringVar);
}

Output:-

hello

hello

hello

We are getting different output than the output for r using node.js in MAC.

Using n

let stringVar = "hellon"
for(let i=0;i < 3;i++)
{
  console.log(stringVar);
}

Output:-

hello

hello

hello

Using nr

let stringVar = "hellonr"
for(let i=0;i < 3;i++)
{
  console.log(stringVar);
}

Output:-

hello

hello

hello

Note that we are getting two line breaks instead of one.

I hope this article helped you to understand the difference between n, r and nr. Good Luck !!!