UNIX: how to merge 2 text files?

Question

Is there a way to merge 2 text files into one (by appending the content of the second right after the first one) in Unix ?

Answer 1

Assuming bash as shell or bash script...

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Append file2 to file1 (keeping file2 in original state):

cat file2 >> file1

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Or this (keeping both original files around):

cat file1 file2 > new_merged_file