GNU Info

(sed.info)Data Spaces

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Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Where SED buffers data
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   SED maintains two data buffers: the active _pattern_ space, and the
auxiliary _hold_ space.  In "normal" operation, SED reads in one line
from the input stream and places it in the pattern space.  This pattern
space is where text manipulations occur.  The hold space is initially
empty, but there are commands for moving data between the pattern and
hold spaces.