It seems that the purpose of `cat` is to concatenate several files. However, many people still use `cat` instead of `less` (or a similar program like `more`) to display a file. See, for example, the [GNU m4 manual](https://www.gnu.org/savannah-checkouts/gnu/m4/manual/m4-1.4.18/html_node/Command-line-files.html#Command-line-files).

> ###Man page: less
> **-F or --quit-if-one-screen**
>
>     Causes `less` to automatically exit if the entire file can be displayed on the first screen.
>
> **-X or --no-init**
>
>     Disables sending the termcap initialization and deinitialization strings to the terminal. This is sometimes desirable if the deinitialization string does something unnecessary, like clearing the screen.

Nowadays, is it a good practice to use `cat` to display or view a file? Why use `cat` to view a file?

This makes me think to [Useless Use Of Cat](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11710552/useless-use-of-cat).

**Note:** This question is not about the differences between `less` and `more`. Moreover, it concerns the visualization of a file created earlier.

---

<sub>**According to the answers and comments**, it seems that `cat` is used beyond its use because it is easier to use than a pager (e.g. `more`, `less`...). Some people think this is an irrelevant fact (or useless) but experience shows that various subtleties pertaining to the shell may have practical consequences: [use a shell loop to process a *text* **file**](https://unix.stackexchange.com/q/169716/286944), [use unquoted variables](https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/68694/when-is-double-quoting-necessary)...</sub>

<sub>Negative consequences vary in intensity. For example, `cat foo bar | less` is valid because the user concatenates two files but `cat foo | less` [is not valid](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11710552/useless-use-of-cat). In the same spirit, `cat` seems to be required in "a pipeline" although it seems that a pager like `less` works in a pipeline too (note: `less` is not suited in all cases concerning displaying, e.g. [Reading a named pipe: tail or cat?](https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/392754/286944)).</sub>

<sub>**See also:** https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/330387/how-to-cat-a-file-with-or-options</sub>

<sub>**Similar question:** [How can I display the contents of a text file on the command line?](https://unix.stackexchange.com/q/86321)</sub>