---
layout: page
author: Alessandro Luini
category-page: advanced
category-title: Advanced commands
tags: calculator sum add substract divide calculate compute
title: bc
previous-page: pages/cmd/advanced/bc.html
next-page: pages/cmd/advanced/colrm.html
---

In computing, <code>bc</code> is a command in Unix operating systems that can do easy
calculations in the shell.<br>
Usually input is passed in using the <code>echo</code> command and pipes.
The name stands for <i>Basic Calculator</i>.<br>

<pre>
echo "(12 / 2 - 3) * 3 + 1.5" | bc
    10.5
</pre>

<h3>Interactive mode</h3>

Using the interactive mode lets you do calculations freely in a special shell inside the shell.
All you need to do is run the bc command with the <code>-i</code> flag
and no parameters.<br>
To exit the interactive mode, write <i>quit</i>.

<pre>
bc -i

1+1
    2
(12 / 2 - 3) * 3 + 1.5
    10.2
quit
</pre>