lbreak

lbreak is a command-line utility found on Unix-like operating systems. Its primary function is to control line breaking behavior for terminal output. Specifically, lbreak allows users to specify a desired line width, and it will insert newlines into its input text to ensure that no line exceeds this specified width. This is particularly useful when dealing with text that may not have existing newline characters or when reformatting text for display in a terminal with a different width.

The command typically takes an integer argument representing the maximum line width. When text is piped into lbreak, it processes the text, inserting line breaks as needed. If the input text already contains newline characters, lbreak will generally respect them, only breaking lines that are longer than the specified width. Some implementations might offer additional options, such as controlling how whitespace is handled or whether to break words or force breaks at specific points. The exact behavior and available options can vary slightly depending on the specific Unix-like system and the version of lbreak installed. It's a simple yet effective tool for ensuring text is readable within terminal constraints.