Difference between revisions 507980 and 507981 on knwiki

{{other uses}}
{{lowercase|title=find}} 
In [[Unix-like]] and some other [[operating system]]s, <code>'''find'''</code> is a [[command-line utility]] that [[Search engine (computing)|searches]] through one or more [[directory tree]]s of a [[file system]], locates [[Computer file|file]]s based on some [[user (computing)|user]]-specified criteria and applies a user-specified action on each matched file. The possible search criteria include a [[pattern matching|pattern]] to match against the [[file name]] or a time range to match against the modification time or access time of the file. By default, <code>find</code> returns a list of all files below the current [[working directory]].

The related <code>'''[[GNU locate[[locate (Unix)|locate]]'''</code> programs use a database of indexed files obtained through <code>find</code> (updated at regular intervals, typically by <code>'''[[cron]]'''</code> job) to provide a faster method of searching the entire filesystem for files by name. 

== Find syntax ==
{{expand section|date=August 2008}}

<code>'''find [-H] [-L] [-P] path... [expression]'''</code>

The three options control how the <code>find</code> command should treat symbolic links. The default behaviour is never to follow symbolic links. This can be explicitly specified using the -P flag. The -L flag will cause the <code>find</code> command to follow symbolic links. The -H flag will only follow symbolic links while processing the command line arguments. These flags are not available with some older versions of <code>find</code>.

(contracted; show full)*[http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/articles/calish-find-087766.html Guide to Linux Find Command Mastery]
*[http://www.shell-fu.org/lister.php?tag=find Top 'find' commands - interesting usage]

{{Unix commands}}

[[Category:Searching]]
[[Category:Standard Unix programs]]
[[Category:Unix SUS2008 utilities]]