10+ Ways to Use the find Command in Linux #GeekLeap

Have you ever ever discovered your self frantically trying to find an essential file, solely to understand that you simply wasted many hours attempting to look in each listing however the file is nowhere to be discovered? Nicely, this can be a frequent downside that almost all Linux customers face, particularly new customers with an enormous variety of disorganized information and directories. On this article, we clarify how one can seek for information and directories in numerous methods utilizing the discover command in Linux.

What’s the discover Command in Linux

The discover command is among the most essential instruments that assist Linux customers seek for their information and folders with a wide range of choices. You possibly can even execute shell instructions on the search gadgets returned (extra on it later!). The syntax to seek for information and directories utilizing the discover command is:

discover <choices> <location> <expression>

Right here is how we are going to clarify the above syntax:

• <choices> are the varied choices used to refine the search
• <location> specifies the placement in reminiscence for the discover command to look in
• <expression> specifies the search merchandise to search for

Among the frequent choices to pair with the discover command are:

Choices	Description
-name	This feature is used to specify the identify of the file or folder.
-type	This specifies the kind of gadgets to search for.
-exec	The exec flag is used to execute shell instructions on the output.
-size	This flag filters the gadgets primarily based on their reminiscence occupancy dimension.
-perm	This flag filters information and directories primarily based on their permissions.
-user	This flag is used to seek for information and directories owned by a selected consumer.

Finest Methods to Use the discover Command in Linux

The most typical method to seek for information and directories with the discover command in Linux is with their respective identify. If you happen to have no idea the precise file identify, the discover command being very versatile can be utilized to seek for information even with the a part of a reputation.

1. Discover Particular Recordsdata with Matching Identify

To seek for information and directories with the discover command, use the -iname flag. The good thing about looking with this flag is that it’s going to seek for the given identify ignoring the case of the file identify. The syntax to make use of the discover command with the -iname flag is:

discover <location> -iname <search_name>

For instance, if you wish to seek for the file “take a look at.txt” within the present listing, use this command:

discover . -iname "take a look at.txt"

Right here, the ‘.’ represents the present listing by way of the relative addressing mode for the file location. You possibly can even use absolutely the addressing mode for the file location as a substitute for those who discover the relative mode obscure.

The “-iname” flag will ignore the case of the file names. To seek for file names precisely matching the file identify, merely exchange the -iname flag with the -name flag:

discover <location> -name <name_to_search>

2. Discover Recordsdata by Identify Sample in Linux

Typically it’s good to work with an essential file however can’t bear in mind the entire identify of the file. Even on this state of affairs, the discover command will be your savior. Merely use wildcards to match the sample to your file identify. Wildcards will then attempt to match the given sample with all of the accessible names. Suppose it’s good to search for a file “test-101.py” within the present listing, you should utilize the next command:

It will record out the completely different information starting with the identify ‘take a look at’ of their file names as proven under:

discover . -type f -iname "take a look at*"

Right here, sort f is added to specify the search merchandise sort as information. Additionally, be sure that to make use of the wildcard expression in a pair of double quotes to stop any errors.

3. Discover Both Recordsdata or Directories with Matching Names

Typically, the discover command searches for all information and directories matching the identify. To seek for solely information, use the “-type f” possibility with the essential syntax:

discover <location> -type f -name <name_to_search>

For instance, the next command will present all of the information with the identify “take a look at”:

discover . -type f -iname "take a look at*"

To seek for solely directories use the “-type d” flag like:

discover <location> -type d -iname <name_to_search>

For instance, the next command will present all of the directories with the identify “take a look at”:

discover . -type d -iname "take a look at*"

4. Discover Recordsdata with Particular Extension

With the lethal mixture of wildcards and the discover command, you’ll be able to even seek for information primarily based on their extensions. For instance, if it’s good to seek for a configuration file within the present listing, however don’t know the precise identify, you should utilize the command:

discover . -iname "*.conf"

5. Discover Recordsdata and Directories primarily based on Dimension

When mixed with applicable dimension descriptors, you should utilize the discover command with the -size flag to seek out information and directories in Linux primarily based on their dimension occupied within the reminiscence. Moreover, varied dimension descriptors can be added to specify the file dimension restrict to go looking.

The fundamental syntax to seek out information in Linux primarily based on dimension is:

discover <location> -type <search_item_type> -size <image><file_size><size_descriptor>

The above syntax is identical because the earlier ones, apart from the “-size <image><file_size><size_descriptor>” half. Right here’s a proof for this half:

• For the <image> half you’ll be able to specify both ‘+’ or ‘-‘ and even depart it clean. Right here, ‘+’ means to search for information/directories exceeding the given dimension, and ‘-‘ specifies to seek out information/directories under the given dimension. Whether it is left clean, then the discover command will search for the information matching precisely the dimensions.
• <file_size> specifies the dimensions of the file/listing.
• <size_descriptor> refers back to the file dimension vary you need to search for.

Numerous kinds of dimension descriptors you should utilize are:

Dimension Descriptor	Description
c	Specifies discover command to search for dimension in bytes
okay	Specifies discover command to search for dimension in kilobytes
M	Specifies discover command to search for dimension in megabytes
G	Specifies discover command to search for dimension in gigabytes

The above syntax could seem very sophisticated for some customers, however some examples will make it simpler to know.

• If it’s good to view directories equal to 4 kB within the Paperwork listing, use this command:

discover ~/Paperwork -type d -size 4k

• Or in case you are low on area and have to view information exceeding 100 MB within the Paperwork listing, use this command:

discover ~/Paperwork -type f -size +100M

• If it’s good to view information lower than 10 MB within the Paperwork listing, use this command:

discover ~/Paperwork -type f -size -10M

• If it’s good to view empty information within the Paperwork listing, use this command:

discover ~/Paperwork -type f -size 0

6. Discover Recordsdata and Directories Matching Particular Permission

Permissions in Linux are of utmost significance in Linux to guard each information and directories from unintentional entry. To know extra, try our complete information on Linux permissions.

To seek out information and directories primarily based on the permission set, use this syntax:

discover <location> -type <search_item_type> -perm <permission_set>

Within the above syntax, you should utilize both absolutely the mode of addressing or the relative mode for <permission_set>.

Suppose it’s good to discover information with read-only permission for root, use this command:

discover ~/Paperwork/take a look at/ -type f -perm 400

Or if you wish to discover information with each learn and write permissions for all customers, use this command:

discover ~/Paperwork/take a look at/ -type f -perm a=r+w

7. Discover Recordsdata and Directories owned by a Person

As we defined beforehand, you’ll be able to seek for information primarily based on permissions set for the file with the discover command in Linux. Now we are going to present you how you can view the information owned by a selected consumer. The fundamental syntax stays largely the identical apart from the brand new -user flag which specifies the discover command to seek for information owned by that consumer:

 discover <location> -type <search_item_type> -user <username>

For instance, if you wish to see the information owned by the ‘take a look at’ consumer within the present listing, use this command:

discover . -type f -user take a look at

8. Utilizing the discover command with -exec flag

With the -exec flag, you’ll be able to execute precise shell instructions with the discover command and thus enhance its functionalities a number of instances. The -exec flag executes the shell instructions on each search outcome returned. The fundamental syntax to make use of the discover command with the -exec flag is:

discover <location> <choices> -exec <shell_command>  ;

Within the above syntax, the are used to inject the search outcomes discovered by the discover command contained in the shell command. An instance will make it extra clear.

Suppose, you need to copy a file named take a look at.txt inside the present listing to the /tmp/docs/, use this command:

discover . -iname renaming.sh -exec cp  ./testing ;

Within the above instance, when the “renaming.sh” file is discovered, it’s instantly plugged instead of the “” the place the traditional copy process is adopted. The final semi-colon (;) demarcates the termination of the command.

Allow us to now see how a number of information are dealt with by the -exec flag. Say you need to transfer all .pdf information within the present listing to a brand new listing named “ftesting” within the residence listing, you should utilize this command:

discover .-name "*.pdf" -exec mv  ./testing + ;

If you wish to rename utilizing the mv command, try our article on how you can rename a file in Linux the place we’ve mentioned 4 completely different strategies to rename information.

9. Discover and Delete Recordsdata and Directories in Linux

Typically it’s possible you’ll have to delete particular information/directories in Linux. You’d assume {that a} sophisticated shell script must be written for it. Nonetheless, with the ability of the -exec command, you’ll be able to simply delete information or directories filtered by the discover instructions primarily based on the desired guidelines. The fundamental syntax to delete information utilizing the discover command is:

discover <location> <choices> -type <search_item_type> -exec rm -vf  ;

Some customers could discover the above command tough to know. To make issues less complicated, you should utilize the -delete flag as a substitute of the complete -exec half to delete the gadgets. The syntax to delete information utilizing the -delete flag with the discover command in Linux is:

discover <location> <choices> -type <search_item_type> -delete

Delete File and Listing with Actual Identify

Deleting a file/listing works the identical as utilizing the discover command to seek for it. The syntax to delete a file utilizing discover is:

discover <location> <choices> -type <search_item_type> -name <file_to_delete> -delete

Say you need to delete the “take a look at.txt” file within the present listing, you should utilize this command as:

discover . -type f -name take a look at.txt -delete

Delete Recordsdata with Partially Matching Identify

If you happen to delete a file and all you’ll be able to bear in mind is part of the identify, then you should utilize wildcards to seek out all kinds of matching names with the given file identify. The syntax to delete information and directories with a partial identify with the discover command in Linux is:

discover <location> <choices> -type <search_item_type> -name <name_with_wildcard> -delete

For instance, to delete all information starting with the identify “take a look at”, use this command:

discover . -type f -name "take a look at*" -delete

Delete Recordsdata with identical Extension

When it’s good to delete all information with the identical extension in a listing, all it’s good to do is add the -delete flag on the finish. The syntax to delete all information with the identical extensions is:

discover <location> -type f -name "*.<extension>" -delete

For instance, if you wish to delete all .pdf information within the present listing, you should utilize this command:

discover . -type f -name "*.pdf" -delete

If you wish to learn about extra methods to delete information and directories in Linux, try articles on how you can delete a file in Linux and how you can delete a listing in Linux. We advocate you to at all times first run the discover command with out te delete flag. As soon as you might be proud of the outcomes, then you’ll be able to apply the -delete flag to lastly delete the gadgets.

Delete Empty Recordsdata and Directories with discover Command

Deleting empty information and directories is pretty easy. Merely add the -delete flag on the finish for the command to seek out empty folders and information in Linux. The syntax to delete empty information and folders is:

discover <location> -type <search_item_type> -size 0 -delete