echo --version doesn't works

Question

how can i know version of echo command as specified in the man page for echo echo --version should output version of echo command is it a bug in echo command or its documentation.. plz explain.. same is the case with echo help!!

Answer 1

You are probably hitting the shell builtin echo. Try using the real program

/bin/echo --version

For a help section of the builtin echo, try

help echo

And for its manpage, try

man bash

If you are using the bash as your shell

Answer 2

That's probably because the echo you use is the one intergrated in bash.

/bin/echo --version

will force calling the echo from coreutils, and show its version.

Answer 3

For more information on "builtins" check the builtins man page (bash specific, basically the "builtins" section of the main, extensive bash man page)