What command is typically used to view the contents of a file in Linux?

The command typically used to view the contents of a file in Linux is "cat." This command is short for "concatenate" and is primarily used to display the contents of files on the standard output (the terminal). When you run "cat filename," it reads the file and outputs its content directly to your screen, making it a straightforward and efficient way to view text files.

While "view" is related to viewing files, it is usually associated with opened files in a more interactive editor-like environment (specifically it invokes the "less" command or "vi" in read-only mode). "Show" and "open" are not standard commands used in Linux for this purpose, as they do not typically exist or are not functioning as intended for viewing file contents directly. Thus, "cat" stands out as the most common and straightforward choice for displaying file contents in Linux.