Add numbers to the beginning of every line in a file

Question

How can I add numbers to the beginning of every line in a file?

E.g.:

This is
the text
from the file.

Becomes:

000000001 This is
000         


        

Answer 1

Easiest, simplest option is

awk '{print NR,$0}' file

See comment above on why nl isn't really the best option.