Provided by: ugrep_3.7.2+dfsg-1_amd64 
NAME
ugrep, ug -- file pattern searcher
SYNOPSIS
ugrep [OPTIONS] [-A NUM] [-B NUM] [-C NUM] [-y] [-Q|PATTERN] [-f FILE]
[-e PATTERN] [-N PATTERN] [-t TYPES] [-g GLOBS] [--sort[=KEY]]
[--color[=WHEN]|--colour[=WHEN]] [--pager[=COMMAND]] [FILE ...]
DESCRIPTION
The ugrep utility searches any given input files, selecting lines that match one or more patterns. By
default, a pattern matches an input line if the regular expression (RE) matches the input line. A
pattern matches multiple input lines if the RE in the pattern matches one or more newlines in the input.
An empty pattern matches every line. Each input line that matches at least one of the patterns is
written to the standard output.
ugrep accepts input of various encoding formats and normalizes the output to UTF-8. When a UTF byte
order mark is present in the input, the input is automatically normalized; otherwise, ugrep assumes the
input is ASCII, UTF-8, or raw binary. An input encoding format may be specified with option --encoding.
The ug command is equivalent to ugrep --config to load the default configuration file, which allows for
customization, see CONFIGURATION.
If no FILE arguments are specified and standard input is read from a terminal, recursive searches are
performed as if -R is specified. To force reading from standard input, specify `-' as a FILE argument.
Directories specified as FILE arguments are searched without recursing into subdirectories, unless -R,
-r, or -2...-9 is specified.
Hidden files and directories are ignored in recursive searches. Option -. (--hidden) includes hidden
files and directories in recursive searches.
A query interface is opened with -Q (--query) to interactively specify search patterns and view search
results. Note that a PATTERN argument cannot be specified in this case. To specify one or more patterns
with -Q, use -e PATTERN.
Option -f FILE matches patterns specified in FILE. If FILE is large and defines complex regular
expression patterns, then option -P (Perl matching) may improve performance (this omits POSIX DFA
construction.)
ugrep --help WHAT displays help on options related to WHAT; --help format displays help on --format and
--replace formatting; --help regex displays help on regular expression syntax and conventions; --help
globs displays help on glob patterns.
The following options are available:
-A NUM, --after-context=NUM
Print NUM lines of trailing context after matching lines. Places a --group-separator between
contiguous groups of matches. See also options -B, -C and -y.
-a, --text
Process a binary file as if it were text. This is equivalent to the --binary-files=text option.
This option might output binary garbage to the terminal, which can have problematic consequences
if the terminal driver interprets some of it as commands.
--and [[-e] PATTERN] ... -e PATTERN
Specify additional patterns to match. Patterns must be specified with -e. Each -e PATTERN
following this option is considered an alternative pattern to match, i.e. each -e is interpreted
as an OR pattern. For example, -e A -e B --and -e C -e D matches lines with (`A' or `B') and (`C'
or `D'). Note that multiple -e PATTERN are alternations that bind more tightly together than
--and. Option --stats displays the search patterns applied. See also options --not, --andnot,
--bool, --files and --lines.
--andnot [[-e] PATTERN] ...
Combines --and --not. See also options --and, --not and --bool.
-B NUM, --before-context=NUM
Print NUM lines of leading context before matching lines. Places a --group-separator between
contiguous groups of matches. See also options -A, -C and -y.
-b, --byte-offset
The offset in bytes of a matched line is displayed in front of the respective matched line. If -u
is specified, displays the offset for each pattern matched on the same line. Byte offsets are
exact for ASCII, UTF-8 and raw binary input. Otherwise, the byte offset in the UTF-8 normalized
input is displayed.
--binary-files=TYPE
Controls searching and reporting pattern matches in binary files. TYPE can be `binary',
`without-match`, `text`, `hex` and `with-hex'. The default is `binary' to search binary files and
to report a match without displaying the match. `without-match' ignores binary matches. `text'
treats all binary files as text, which might output binary garbage to the terminal, which can have
problematic consequences if the terminal driver interprets some of it as commands. `hex' reports
all matches in hexadecimal. `with-hex' only reports binary matches in hexadecimal, leaving text
matches alone. A match is considered binary when matching a zero byte or invalid UTF. Short
options are -a, -I, -U, -W and -X.
--bool, -%
Specifies Boolean query patterns. A Boolean query pattern is composed of `AND', `OR', `NOT'
operators and grouping with `(' `)'. Spacing between subpatterns is the same as `AND', `|' is the
same as `OR' and a `-' is the same as `NOT'. The `OR' operator binds more tightly than `AND'.
For example, --bool 'A|B C|D' matches lines with (`A' or `B') and (`C' or `D'), --bool 'A -B'
matches lines with `A' and not `B'. Operators `AND', `OR', `NOT' require proper spacing. For
example, --bool 'A OR B AND C OR D' matches lines with (`A' or `B') and (`C' or `D'), --bool 'A
AND NOT B' matches lines with `A' without `B'. Quoted subpatterns are matched literally as
strings. For example, --bool 'A "AND"|"OR"' matches lines with `A' and also either `AND' or `OR'.
Parenthesis are used for grouping. For example, --bool '(A B)|C' matches lines with `A' and `B',
or lines with `C'. Note that all subpatterns in a Boolean query pattern are regular expressions,
unless option -F is used. Options -E, -F, -G, -P and -Z can be combined with --bool to match
subpatterns as strings or regular expressions (-E is the default.) This option does not apply to
-f FILE patterns. Option --stats displays the search patterns applied. See also options --and,
--andnot, --not, --files and --lines.
--break
Adds a line break between results from different files.
-C NUM, --context=NUM
Print NUM lines of leading and trailing context surrounding each match. Places a
--group-separator between contiguous groups of matches. See also options -A, -B and -y.
-c, --count
Only a count of selected lines is written to standard output. If -o or -u is specified, counts
the number of patterns matched. If -v is specified, counts the number of non-matching lines.
--color[=WHEN], --colour[=WHEN]
Mark up the matching text with the expression stored in the GREP_COLOR or GREP_COLORS environment
variable. WHEN can be `never', `always', or `auto', where `auto' marks up matches only when
output on a terminal. The default is `auto'.
--colors=COLORS, --colours=COLORS
Use COLORS to mark up text. COLORS is a colon-separated list of one or more parameters `sl='
(selected line), `cx=' (context line), `mt=' (matched text), `ms=' (match selected), `mc=' (match
context), `fn=' (file name), `ln=' (line number), `cn=' (column number), `bn=' (byte offset),
`se=' (separator). Parameter values are ANSI SGR color codes or `k' (black), `r' (red), `g'
(green), `y' (yellow), `b' (blue), `m' (magenta), `c' (cyan), `w' (white). Upper case specifies
background colors. A `+' qualifies a color as bright. A foreground and a background color may be
combined with font properties `n' (normal), `f' (faint), `h' (highlight), `i' (invert), `u'
(underline). Parameter `hl' enables file name hyperlinks. Parameter `rv' reverses the `sl=' and
`cx=' parameters with option -v. Selectively overrides GREP_COLORS.
--config[=FILE], ---[FILE]
Use configuration FILE. The default FILE is `.ugrep'. The working directory is checked first for
FILE, then the home directory. The options specified in the configuration FILE are parsed first,
followed by the remaining options specified on the command line.
--confirm
Confirm actions in -Q query mode. The default is confirm.
--cpp Output file matches in C++. See also options --format and -u.
--csv Output file matches in CSV. If -H, -n, -k, or -b is specified, additional values are output. See
also options --format and -u.
-D ACTION, --devices=ACTION
If an input file is a device, FIFO or socket, use ACTION to process it. By default, ACTION is
`skip', which means that devices are silently skipped. If ACTION is `read', devices read just as
if they were ordinary files.
-d ACTION, --directories=ACTION
If an input file is a directory, use ACTION to process it. By default, ACTION is `skip', i.e.,
silently skip directories unless specified on the command line. If ACTION is `read', warn when
directories are read as input. If ACTION is `recurse', read all files under each directory,
recursively, following symbolic links only if they are on the command line. This is equivalent to
the -r option. If ACTION is `dereference-recurse', read all files under each directory,
recursively, following symbolic links. This is equivalent to the -R option.
--depth=[MIN,][MAX], -1, -2 ... -9, --10, --11 ...
Restrict recursive searches from MIN to MAX directory levels deep, where -1 (--depth=1) searches
the specified path without recursing into subdirectories. Note that -3 -5, -3-5, or -35 searches
3 to 5 levels deep. Enables -R if -R or -r is not specified.
--dotall
Dot `.' in regular expressions matches anything, including newline. Note that `.*' matches all
input and should not be used.
-E, --extended-regexp
Interpret patterns as extended regular expressions (EREs). This is the default.
-e PATTERN, --regexp=PATTERN
Specify a PATTERN used during the search of the input: an input line is selected if it matches any
of the specified patterns. Note that longer patterns take precedence over shorter patterns. This
option is most useful when multiple -e options are used to specify multiple patterns, when a
pattern begins with a dash (`-'), to specify a pattern after option -f or after the FILE
arguments.
--encoding=ENCODING
The encoding format of the input, where ENCODING can be: `binary', `ASCII', `UTF-8', `UTF-16',
`UTF-16BE', `UTF-16LE', `UTF-32', `UTF-32BE', `UTF-32LE', `LATIN1', `ISO-8859-1', `ISO-8859-2',
`ISO-8859-3', `ISO-8859-4', `ISO-8859-5', `ISO-8859-6', `ISO-8859-7', `ISO-8859-8', `ISO-8859-9',
`ISO-8859-10', `ISO-8859-11', `ISO-8859-13', `ISO-8859-14', `ISO-8859-15', `ISO-8859-16', `MAC',
`MACROMAN', `EBCDIC', `CP437', `CP850', `CP858', `CP1250', `CP1251', `CP1252', `CP1253', `CP1254',
`CP1255', `CP1256', `CP1257', `CP1258', `KOI8-R', `KOI8-U', `KOI8-RU'.
--exclude=GLOB
Skip files whose name matches GLOB using wildcard matching, same as -g ^GLOB. GLOB can use **, *,
?, and [...] as wildcards and \ to quote a wildcard or backslash character literally. When GLOB
contains a `/', full pathnames are matched. Otherwise basenames are matched. When GLOB ends with
a `/', directories are excluded as if --exclude-dir is specified. Otherwise files are excluded.
Note that --exclude patterns take priority over --include patterns. GLOB should be quoted to
prevent shell globbing. This option may be repeated.
--exclude-dir=GLOB
Exclude directories whose name matches GLOB from recursive searches, same as -g ^GLOB/. GLOB can
use **, *, ?, and [...] as wildcards and \ to quote a wildcard or backslash character literally.
When GLOB contains a `/', full pathnames are matched. Otherwise basenames are matched. Note that
--exclude-dir patterns take priority over --include-dir patterns. GLOB should be quoted to
prevent shell globbing. This option may be repeated.
--exclude-from=FILE
Read the globs from FILE and skip files and directories whose name matches one or more globs. A
glob can use **, *, ?, and [...] as wildcards and \ to quote a wildcard or backslash character
literally. When a glob contains a `/', full pathnames are matched. Otherwise basenames are
matched. When a glob ends with a `/', directories are excluded as if --exclude-dir is specified.
Otherwise files are excluded. A glob starting with a `!' overrides previously-specified
exclusions by including matching files. Lines starting with a `#' and empty lines in FILE are
ignored. When FILE is a `-', standard input is read. This option may be repeated.
--exclude-fs=MOUNTS
Exclude file systems specified by MOUNTS from recursive searches, MOUNTS is a comma-separated list
of mount points or pathnames of directories on file systems. Note that --exclude-fs mounts take
priority over --include-fs mounts. This option may be repeated.
-F, --fixed-strings
Interpret pattern as a set of fixed strings, separated by newlines, any of which is to be matched.
This makes ugrep behave as fgrep. If a PATTERN is specified, or -e PATTERN or -N PATTERN, then
this option has no effect on -f FILE patterns to allow -f FILE patterns to narrow or widen the
scope of the PATTERN search.
-f FILE, --file=FILE
Read newline-separated patterns from FILE. White space in patterns is significant. Empty lines
in FILE are ignored. If FILE does not exist, the GREP_PATH environment variable is used as path
to FILE. If that fails, looks for FILE in /usr/local/share/ugrep/patterns. When FILE is a `-',
standard input is read. Empty files contain no patterns; thus nothing is matched. This option
may be repeated.
--filter=COMMANDS
Filter files through the specified COMMANDS first before searching. COMMANDS is a comma-separated
list of `exts:command [option ...]', where `exts' is a comma-separated list of filename extensions
and `command' is a filter utility. The filter utility should read from standard input and write
to standard output. Files matching one of `exts' are filtered. When `exts' is `*', files with
non-matching extensions are filtered. One or more `option' separated by spacing may be specified,
which are passed verbatim to the command. A `%' as `option' expands into the pathname to search.
For example, --filter='pdf:pdftotext % -' searches PDF files. The `%' expands into a `-' when
searching standard input. Option --label=.ext may be used to specify extension `ext' when
searching standard input.
--filter-magic-label=[+]LABEL:MAGIC
Associate LABEL with files whose signature "magic bytes" match the MAGIC regex pattern. Only
files that have no filename extension are labeled, unless +LABEL is specified. When LABEL matches
an extension specified in --filter=COMMANDS, the corresponding command is invoked. This option
may be repeated.
--format=FORMAT
Output FORMAT-formatted matches. For example --format='%f:%n:%O%~' outputs matching lines `%O'
with filename `%f` and line number `%n' followed by a newline `%~'. When option -P is used,
FORMAT may include `%1' to `%9', `%[NUM]#' and `%[NAME]#' to output group captures. A `%%'
outputs `%'. See `ugrep --help format' and `man ugrep' section FORMAT for details. Context
options -A, -B, -C and -y are ignored.
--free-space
Spacing (blanks and tabs) in regular expressions are ignored.
-G, --basic-regexp
Interpret patterns as basic regular expressions (BREs), i.e. make ugrep behave as traditional
grep.
-g GLOBS, --glob=GLOBS
Search only files whose name matches the specified comma-separated list of GLOBS, same as
--include='glob' for each `glob' in GLOBS. When a `glob' is preceded by a `!' or a `^', skip
files whose name matches `glob', same as --exclude='glob'. When `glob' contains a `/', full
pathnames are matched. Otherwise basenames are matched. When `glob' ends with a `/', directories
are matched, same as --include-dir='glob' and --exclude-dir='glob'. A leading `/' matches the
working directory. This option may be repeated and may be combined with options -M, -O and -t to
expand searches. See `ugrep --help globs' and `man ugrep' section GLOBBING for details.
--group-separator[=SEP]
Use SEP as a group separator for context options -A, -B and -C. The default is a double hyphen
(`--').
-H, --with-filename
Always print the filename with output lines. This is the default when there is more than one file
to search.
-h, --no-filename
Never print filenames with output lines. This is the default when there is only one file (or only
standard input) to search.
--heading, -+
Group matches per file. Adds a heading and a line break between results from different files.
--help [WHAT], -? [WHAT]
Display a help message, specifically on WHAT when specified. In addition, `--help format'
displays an overview of FORMAT fields, `--help regex' displays an overview of regular expressions
and `--help globs' displays an overview of glob syntax and conventions.
--hexdump=[1-8][a][bch][A[NUM]][B[NUM]][C[NUM]]
Output matches in 1 to 8 columns of 8 hexadecimal octets. The default is 2 columns or 16 octets
per line. Option `a' outputs a `*' for all hex lines that are identical to the previous hex line,
`b' removes all space breaks, `c' removes the character column, `h' removes hex spacing, `A'
includes up to NUM hex lines after the match, `B' includes up to NUM hex lines before the match
and `C' includes up to NUM hex lines. When NUM is omitted, the matching line is included in the
output. See also options -U, -W and -X.
--hidden, -.
Search hidden files and directories.
--hyperlink
Hyperlinks are enabled for file names when colors are enabled. Same as --colors=hl.
-I, --ignore-binary
Ignore matches in binary files. This option is equivalent to the --binary-files=without-match
option.
-i, --ignore-case
Perform case insensitive matching. By default, ugrep is case sensitive. By default, this option
applies to ASCII letters only. Use options -P and -i for Unicode case insensitive matching.
--ignore-files[=FILE]
Ignore files and directories matching the globs in each FILE that is encountered in recursive
searches. The default FILE is `.gitignore'. Matching files and directories located in the
directory of a FILE's location and in directories below are ignored by temporarily extending the
--exclude and --exclude-dir globs, as if --exclude-from=FILE is locally enforced. Globbing syntax
is the same as the --exclude-from=FILE gitignore syntax; directories are excluded when the glob
ends in a `/', same as git. Files and directories explicitly specified as command line arguments
are never ignored. This option may be repeated with additional files.
--include=GLOB
Search only files whose name matches GLOB using wildcard matching, same as -g GLOB. GLOB can use
**, *, ?, and [...] as wildcards and \ to quote a wildcard or backslash character literally. When
GLOB contains a `/', full pathnames are matched. Otherwise basenames are matched. When GLOB ends
with a `/', directories are included as if --include-dir is specified. Otherwise files are
included. Note that --exclude patterns take priority over --include patterns. GLOB should be
quoted to prevent shell globbing. This option may be repeated.
--include-dir=GLOB
Only directories whose name matches GLOB are included in recursive searches, same as -g GLOB/.
GLOB can use **, *, ?, and [...] as wildcards and \ to quote a wildcard or backslash character
literally. When GLOB contains a `/', full pathnames are matched. Otherwise basenames are
matched. Note that --exclude-dir patterns take priority over --include-dir patterns. GLOB should
be quoted to prevent shell globbing. This option may be repeated.
--include-from=FILE
Read the globs from FILE and search only files and directories whose name matches one or more
globs. A glob can use **, *, ?, and [...] as wildcards and \ to quote a wildcard or backslash
character literally. When a glob contains a `/', full pathnames are matched. Otherwise basenames
are matched. When a glob ends with a `/', directories are included as if --include-dir is
specified. Otherwise files are included. A glob starting with a `!' overrides
previously-specified inclusions by excluding matching files. Lines starting with a `#' and empty
lines in FILE are ignored. When FILE is a `-', standard input is read. This option may be
repeated.
--include-fs=MOUNTS
Only file systems specified by MOUNTS are included in recursive searches. MOUNTS is a
comma-separated list of mount points or pathnames of directories on file systems. --include-fs=.
restricts recursive searches to the file system of the working directory only. Note that
--exclude-fs mounts take priority over --include-fs mounts. This option may be repeated.
-J NUM, --jobs=NUM
Specifies the number of threads spawned to search files. By default an optimum number of threads
is spawned to search files simultaneously. -J1 disables threading: files are searched in the same
order as specified.
-j, --smart-case
Perform case insensitive matching like option -i, unless a pattern is specified with a literal
ASCII upper case letter.
--json Output file matches in JSON. If -H, -n, -k, or -b is specified, additional values are output.
See also options --format and -u.
-K FIRST[,LAST], --range=FIRST[,LAST]
Start searching at line FIRST, stop at line LAST when specified.
-k, --column-number
The column number of a matched pattern is displayed in front of the respective matched line,
starting at column 1. Tabs are expanded when columns are counted, see also option --tabs.
-L, --files-without-match
Only the names of files not containing selected lines are written to standard output. Pathnames
are listed once per file searched. If the standard input is searched, the string ``(standard
input)'' is written.
-l, --files-with-matches
Only the names of files containing selected lines are written to standard output. ugrep will only
search a file until a match has been found, making searches potentially less expensive. Pathnames
are listed once per file searched. If the standard input is searched, the string ``(standard
input)'' is written.
--label=LABEL
Displays the LABEL value when input is read from standard input where a file name would normally
be printed in the output. Associates a filename extension with standard input when LABEL has a
suffix. The default value is `(standard input)'.
--line-buffered
Force output to be line buffered instead of block buffered.
--lines
Apply Boolean queries to match lines, the opposite of --files. This is the default Boolean query
mode to match specific lines.
-M MAGIC, --file-magic=MAGIC
Only files matching the signature pattern MAGIC are searched. The signature "magic bytes" at the
start of a file are compared to the MAGIC regex pattern. When matching, the file will be
searched. When MAGIC is preceded by a `!' or a `^', skip files with matching MAGIC signatures.
This option may be repeated and may be combined with options -O and -t to expand the search.
Every file on the search path is read, making searches potentially more expensive.
-m NUM, --max-count=NUM
Stop reading the input after NUM matches in each input file.
--match
Match all input. Same as specifying an empty pattern to search.
--max-files=NUM
Restrict the number of files matched to NUM. Note that --sort or -J1 may be specified to produce
replicable results. If --sort is specified, the number of threads spawned is limited to NUM.
--mmap[=MAX]
Use memory maps to search files. By default, memory maps are used under certain conditions to
improve performance. When MAX is specified, use up to MAX mmap memory per thread.
-N PATTERN, --neg-regexp=PATTERN
Specify a negative PATTERN used during the search of the input: an input line is selected only if
it matches any of the specified patterns unless a subpattern of PATTERN. Same as -e (?^PATTERN).
Negative pattern matches are essentially removed before any other patterns are matched. Note that
longer patterns take precedence over shorter patterns. This option may be repeated.
-n, --line-number
Each output line is preceded by its relative line number in the file, starting at line 1. The
line number counter is reset for each file processed.
--no-group-separator
Removes the group separator line from the output for context options -A, -B and -C.
--not [-e] PATTERN
Specifies that PATTERN should not match. Note that -e A --not -e B matches lines with `A' or
lines without a `B'. To match lines with `A' that have no `B', specify -e A --andnot -e B.
Option --stats displays the search patterns applied. See also options --and, --andnot, --bool,
--files and --lines.
-O EXTENSIONS, --file-extension=EXTENSIONS
Search only files whose filename extensions match the specified comma-separated list of
EXTENSIONS, same as --include='*.ext' for each `ext' in EXTENSIONS. When an `ext' is preceded by
a `!' or a `^', skip files whose filename extensions matches `ext', same as --exclude='*.ext'.
This option may be repeated and may be combined with options -g, -M and -t to expand the recursive
search.
-o, --only-matching
Print only the matching part of lines. When multiple lines match, the line numbers with option -n
are displayed using `|' as the field separator for each additional line matched by the pattern.
If -u is specified, ungroups multiple matches on the same line. This option cannot be combined
with options -A, -B, -C, -v and -y.
--only-line-number
The line number of the matching line in the file is output without displaying the match. The line
number counter is reset for each file processed.
--files
Apply Boolean queries to match files, the opposite of --lines. A file matches if all Boolean
conditions are satisfied by the lines matched in the file. For example, --files -e A --and -e B
-e C --andnot -e D matches a file if some lines match `A' and some lines match (`B' or `C') and no
line in the file matches `D'. May also be specified as --files --bool 'A B|C -D'. Option -v
cannot be specified with --files. See also options --and, --andnot, --not, --bool and --lines.
-P, --perl-regexp
Interpret PATTERN as a Perl regular expression using PCRE2. Note that Perl pattern matching
differs from the default grep POSIX pattern matching.
-p, --no-dereference
If -R or -r is specified, no symbolic links are followed, even when they are specified on the
command line.
--pager[=COMMAND]
When output is sent to the terminal, uses COMMAND to page through the output. The default COMMAND
is `less -R'. Enables --heading and --line-buffered.
--pretty
When output is sent to a terminal, enables --color, --heading, -n, --sort and -T when not
explicitly disabled or set.
-Q[DELAY], --query[=DELAY]
Query mode: user interface to perform interactive searches. This mode requires an ANSI capable
terminal. An optional DELAY argument may be specified to reduce or increase the response time to
execute searches after the last key press, in increments of 100ms, where the default is 5 (0.5s
delay). No whitespace may be given between -Q and its argument DELAY. Initial patterns may be
specified with -e PATTERN, i.e. a PATTERN argument requires option -e. Press F1 or CTRL-Z to view
the help screen. Press F2 or CTRL-Y to invoke a command to view or edit the file shown at the top
of the screen. The command can be specified with option --view, or defaults to environment
variable PAGER if defined, or EDITOR. Press Tab and Shift-Tab to navigate directories and to
select a file to search. Press Enter to select lines to output. Press ALT-l for option -l to
list files, ALT-n for -n, etc. Non-option commands include ALT-] to increase fuzziness and ALT-}
to increase context. Enables --heading. See also options --confirm and --view.
-q, --quiet, --silent
Quiet mode: suppress all output. ugrep will only search until a match has been found.
-R, --dereference-recursive
Recursively read all files under each directory. Follow all symbolic links, unlike -r. When -J1
is specified, files are searched in the same order as specified. Note that when no FILE arguments
are specified and input is read from a terminal, recursive searches are performed as if -R is
specified.
-r, --recursive
Recursively read all files under each directory, following symbolic links only if they are on the
command line. When -J1 is specified, files are searched in the same order as specified.
--replace=FORMAT
Replace matching patterns in the output by the specified FORMAT with `%' fields. When option -P
is used, FORMAT may include `%1' to `%9', `%[NUM]#' and `%[NAME]#' to output group captures. A
`%%' outputs `%' and `%~' outputs a newline. See option --format, `ugrep --help format' and `man
ugrep' section FORMAT for details.
-S, --dereference
If -r is specified, all symbolic links are followed, like -R. The default is not to follow
symbolic links.
-s, --no-messages
Silent mode: nonexistent and unreadable files are ignored, i.e. their error messages are
suppressed.
--save-config[=FILE]
Save configuration FILE. By default `.ugrep' is saved. If FILE is a `-', write the configuration
to standard output.
--separator[=SEP]
Use SEP as field separator between file name, line number, column number, byte offset and the
matched line. The default is a colon (`:').
--sort[=KEY]
Displays matching files in the order specified by KEY in recursive searches. KEY can be `name' to
sort by pathname (default), `best' to sort by best match with option -Z (sort by best match
requires two passes over the input files), `size' to sort by file size, `used' to sort by last
access time, `changed' to sort by last modification time and `created' to sort by creation time.
Sorting is reversed with `rname', `rbest', `rsize', `rused', `rchanged', or `rcreated'. Archive
contents are not sorted. Subdirectories are sorted and displayed after matching files. FILE
arguments are searched in the same order as specified. Normally ugrep displays matches in no
particular order to improve performance.
--stats
Output statistics on the number of files and directories searched and the inclusion and exclusion
constraints applied.
-T, --initial-tab
Add a tab space to separate the file name, line number, column number and byte offset with the
matched line.
-t TYPES, --file-type=TYPES
Search only files associated with TYPES, a comma-separated list of file types. Each file type
corresponds to a set of filename extensions passed to option -O and filenames passed to option -g.
For capitalized file types, the search is expanded to include files with matching file signature
magic bytes, as if passed to option -M. When a type is preceded by a `!' or a `^', excludes files
of the specified type. This option may be repeated. The possible file types can be (where -tlist
displays a detailed list): `actionscript', `ada', `asm', `asp', `aspx', `autoconf', `automake',
`awk', `Awk', `basic', `batch', `bison', `c', `c++', `clojure', `cpp', `csharp', `css', `csv',
`dart', `Dart', `delphi', `elisp', `elixir', `erlang', `fortran', `gif', `Gif', `go', `groovy',
`gsp', `haskell', `html', `jade', `java', `jpeg', `Jpeg', `js', `json', `jsp', `julia', `kotlin',
`less', `lex', `lisp', `lua', `m4', `make', `markdown', `matlab', `node', `Node', `objc',
`objc++', `ocaml', `parrot', `pascal', `pdf', `Pdf', `perl', `Perl', `php', `Php', `png', `Png',
`prolog', `python', `Python', `r', `rpm', `Rpm', `rst', `rtf', `Rtf', `ruby', `Ruby', `rust',
`scala', `scheme', `shell', `Shell', `smalltalk', `sql', `svg', `swift', `tcl', `tex', `text',
`tiff', `Tiff', `tt', `typescript', `verilog', `vhdl', `vim', `xml', `Xml', `yacc', `yaml'.
--tabs[=NUM]
Set the tab size to NUM to expand tabs for option -k. The value of NUM may be 1, 2, 4, or 8. The
default tab size is 8.
--tag[=TAG[,END]]
Disables colors to mark up matches with TAG. END marks the end of a match if specified, otherwise
TAG. The default is `___'.
-U, --binary
Disables Unicode matching for binary file matching, forcing PATTERN to match bytes, not Unicode
characters. For example, -U '\xa3' matches byte A3 (hex) instead of the Unicode code point U+00A3
represented by the UTF-8 sequence C2 A3. See also option --dotall.
-u, --ungroup
Do not group multiple pattern matches on the same matched line. Output the matched line again for
each additional pattern match with a `+' separator.
-V, --version
Display version with linked libraries and exit.
-v, --invert-match
Selected lines are those not matching any of the specified patterns.
--view[=COMMAND]
Use COMMAND to view/edit a file in query mode when pressing CTRL-Y.
-W, --with-hex
Output binary matches in hexadecimal, leaving text matches alone. This option is equivalent to
the --binary-files=with-hex option with --hexdump=2C. To omit the matching line from the hex
output, combine option --hexdump with option -W. See also option -U.
-w, --word-regexp
The PATTERN is searched for as a word, such that the matching text is preceded by a non-word
character and is followed by a non-word character. Word characters are letters, digits and the
underscore. With option -P, word characters are Unicode letters, digits and underscore. This
option has no effect if -x is also specified. If a PATTERN is specified, or -e PATTERN or -N
PATTERN, then this option has no effect on -f FILE patterns to allow -f FILE patterns to narrow or
widen the scope of the PATTERN search.
-X, --hex
Output matches in hexadecimal. This option is equivalent to the --binary-files=hex option with
--hexdump=2C. To omit the matching line from the hex output, use option --hexdump instead of -X.
See also option -U.
-x, --line-regexp
Select only those matches that exactly match the whole line, as if the patterns are surrounded by
^ and $. If a PATTERN is specified, or -e PATTERN or -N PATTERN, then this option has no effect
on -f FILE patterns to allow -f FILE patterns to narrow or widen the scope of the PATTERN search.
--xml Output file matches in XML. If -H, -n, -k, or -b is specified, additional values are output. See
also options --format and -u.
-Y, --empty
Permits empty matches. By default, empty matches are disabled, unless a pattern begins with `^'
or ends with `$'. With this option, empty-matching patterns such as x? and x*, match all input,
not only lines containing the character `x'.
-y, --any-line
Any line is output (passthru). Non-matching lines are output as context with a `-' separator.
See also options -A, -B and -C.
-Z[+-~][MAX], --fuzzy=[+-~][MAX]
Fuzzy mode: report approximate pattern matches within MAX errors. The default is -Z1: one
deletion, insertion or substitution is allowed. If `+`, `-' and/or `~' is specified, then `+'
allows insertions, `-' allows deletions and `~' allows substitutions. For example, -Z+~3 allows
up to three insertions or substitutions, but no deletions. The first character of an approximate
match always matches the start of a pattern. Option --sort=best orders matching files by best
match. No whitespace may be given between -Z and its argument.
-z, --decompress
Decompress files to search, when compressed. Archives (.cpio, .pax, .tar and .zip) and compressed
archives (e.g. .taz, .tgz, .tpz, .tbz, .tbz2, .tb2, .tz2, .tlz, .txz, .tzst) are searched and
matching pathnames of files in archives are output in braces. If -g, -O, -M, or -t is specified,
searches files stored in archives whose filenames match globs, match filename extensions, match
file signature magic bytes, or match file types, respectively. Supported compression formats:
gzip (.gz), compress (.Z), zip, bzip2 (requires suffix .bz, .bz2, .bzip2, .tbz, .tbz2, .tb2,
.tz2), lzma and xz (requires suffix .lzma, .tlz, .xz, .txz), lz4 (requires suffix .lz4), zstd
(requires suffix .zst, .zstd, .tzst).
--zmax=NUM
When used with option -z (--decompress), searches the contents of compressed files and archives
stored within archives by up to NUM recursive expansions. The default --zmax=1 only permits
searching uncompressed files stored in cpio, pax, tar and zip archives; compressed files and
archives are detected as binary files and are effectively ignored. Specify --zmax=2 to search
compressed files and archives stored in cpio, pax, tar and zip archives. NUM may range from 1 to
99 for up to 99 decompression and de-archiving steps. Increasing NUM values gradually degrades
performance.
-0, --null
Prints a zero-byte (NUL) after the file name. This option can be used with commands such as `find
-print0' and `xargs -0' to process arbitrary file names.
A `--' signals the end of options; the rest of the parameters are FILE arguments, allowing filenames to
begin with a `-' character.
Long options may start with `--no-' to disable, when applicable.
The regular expression pattern syntax is an extended form of the POSIX ERE syntax. For an overview of
the syntax see README.md or visit:
https://github.com/Genivia/ugrep
Note that `.' matches any non-newline character. Pattern `\n' matches a newline character. Multiple
lines may be matched with patterns that match one or more newline characters.
EXIT STATUS
The ugrep utility exits with one of the following values:
0 One or more lines were selected.
1 No lines were selected.
>1 An error occurred.
If -q or --quiet or --silent is used and a line is selected, the exit status is 0 even if an error
occurred.
CONFIGURATION
The ug command is intended for context-dependent interactive searching and is equivalent to the ugrep
--config command to load the default configuration file `.ugrep' when present in the working directory or
in the home directory.
A configuration file contains `NAME=VALUE' pairs per line, where `NAME` is the name of a long option
(without `--') and `=VALUE' is an argument, which is optional and may be omitted depending on the option.
Empty lines and lines starting with a `#' are ignored.
The --config=FILE option and its abbreviated form ---FILE load the specified configuration file located
in the working directory or, when not found, located in the home directory. An error is produced when
FILE is not found or cannot be read.
Command line options are parsed in the following order: the configuration file is loaded first, followed
by the remaining options and arguments on the command line.
The --save-config option saves a `.ugrep' configuration file to the working directory with a subset of
the current options. The --save-config=FILE option saves the configuration to FILE. The configuration
is written to standard output when FILE is a `-'.
GLOBBING
Globbing is used by options -g, --include, --include-dir, --include-from, --exclude, --exclude-dir,
--exclude-from and --ignore-files to match pathnames and basenames in recursive searches. Glob arguments
for these options should be quoted to prevent shell globbing.
Globbing supports gitignore syntax and the corresponding matching rules, except that a glob normally
matches files but not directories. If a glob ends in a path separator `/', then it matches directories
but not files, as if --include-dir or --exclude-dir is specified. When a glob contains a path separator
`/', the full pathname is matched. Otherwise the basename of a file or directory is matched. For
example, *.h matches foo.h and bar/foo.h. bar/*.h matches bar/foo.h but not foo.h and not bar/bar/foo.h.
Use a leading `/' to force /*.h to match foo.h but not bar/foo.h.
When a glob starts with a `^' or a `!' as in -g^GLOB, the match is negated. Likewise, a `!' (but not a
`^') may be used with globs in the files specified --include-from, --exclude-from, and --ignore-files to
negate the glob match. Empty lines or lines starting with a `#' are ignored.
Glob Syntax and Conventions
* Matches anything except /.
? Matches any one character except /.
[abc-e]
Matches one character a,b,c,d,e.
[^abc-e]
Matches one character not a,b,c,d,e,/.
[!abc-e]
Matches one character not a,b,c,d,e,/.
/ When used at the start of a glob, matches if pathname has no /. When used at the end of a glob,
matches directories only.
**/ Matches zero or more directories.
/** When used at the end of a glob, matches everything after the /.
\? Matches a ? or any other character specified after the backslash.
Glob Matching Examples
* Matches a, b, x/a, x/y/b
a Matches a, x/a, x/y/a, but not b, x/b, a/a/b
/* Matches a, b, but not x/a, x/b, x/y/a
/a Matches a, but not x/a, x/y/a
a?b Matches axb, ayb, but not a, b, ab, a/b
a[xy]b Matches axb, ayb but not a, b, azb
a[a-z]b
Matches aab, abb, acb, azb, but not a, b, a3b, aAb, aZb
a[^xy]b
Matches aab, abb, acb, azb, but not a, b, axb, ayb
a[^a-z]b
Matches a3b, aAb, aZb but not a, b, aab, abb, acb, azb
a/*/b Matches a/x/b, a/y/b, but not a/b, a/x/y/b
**/a Matches a, x/a, x/y/a, but not b, x/b.
a/**/b Matches a/b, a/x/b, a/x/y/b, but not x/a/b, a/b/x
a/** Matches a/x, a/y, a/x/y, but not a, b/x
a\?b Matches a?b, but not a, b, ab, axb, a/b
Note that exclude glob patterns take priority over include glob patterns when specified with options -g,
--exclude, --exclude-dir, --include and include-dir.
Glob patterns specified with prefix `!' in any of the files associated with --include-from, --exclude-
from and --ignore-files will negate a previous glob match. That is, any matching file or directory
excluded by a previous glob pattern specified in the files associated with --exclude-from or --ignore-
file will become included again. Likewise, any matching file or directory included by a previous glob
pattern specified in the files associated with --include-from will become excluded again.
ENVIRONMENT
GREP_PATH
May be used to specify a file path to pattern files. The file path is used by option -f to open a
pattern file, when the pattern file does not exist.
GREP_COLOR
May be used to specify ANSI SGR parameters to highlight matches when option --color is used, e.g.
1;35;40 shows pattern matches in bold magenta text on a black background. Deprecated in favor of
GREP_COLORS, but still supported.
GREP_COLORS
May be used to specify ANSI SGR parameters to highlight matches and other attributes when option
--color is used. Its value is a colon-separated list of ANSI SGR parameters that defaults to
cx=33:mt=1;31:fn=1;35:ln=1;32:cn=1;32:bn=1;32:se=36. The mt=, ms=, and mc= capabilities of
GREP_COLORS take priority over GREP_COLOR. Option --colors takes priority over GREP_COLORS.
GREP_COLORS
Colors are specified as string of colon-separated ANSI SGR parameters of the form `what=substring', where
`substring' is a semicolon-separated list of ANSI SGR codes or `k' (black), `r' (red), `g' (green), `y'
(yellow), `b' (blue), `m' (magenta), `c' (cyan), `w' (white). Upper case specifies background colors. A
`+' qualifies a color as bright. A foreground and a background color may be combined with one or more
font properties `n' (normal), `f' (faint), `h' (highlight), `i' (invert), `u' (underline). Substrings
may be specified for:
sl= SGR substring for selected lines.
cx= SGR substring for context lines.
rv Swaps the sl= and cx= capabilities when -v is specified.
mt= SGR substring for matching text in any matching line.
ms= SGR substring for matching text in a selected line. The substring mt= by default.
mc= SGR substring for matching text in a context line. The substring mt= by default.
fn= SGR substring for filenames.
ln= SGR substring for line numbers.
cn= SGR substring for column numbers.
bn= SGR substring for byte offsets.
se= SGR substring for separators.
rv a Boolean parameter, switches sl= and cx= with option -v.
hl a Boolean parameter, enables filename hyperlinks (\33]8;;link).
ne a Boolean parameter, disables ``erase in line'' \33[K.
FORMAT
Option --format=FORMAT specifies an output format for file matches. Fields may be used in FORMAT, which
expand into the following values:
%[ARG]F
if option -H is used: ARG, the file pathname and separator.
%f the file pathname.
%a the file basename without directory path.
%p the directory path to the file.
%z the file pathname in a (compressed) archive.
%[ARG]H
if option -H is used: ARG, the quoted pathname and separator, \" and \\ replace " and \.
%h the quoted file pathname, \" and \\ replace " and \.
%[ARG]N
if option -n is used: ARG, the line number and separator.
%n the line number of the match.
%[ARG]K
if option -k is used: ARG, the column number and separator.
%k the column number of the match.
%[ARG]B
if option -b is used: ARG, the byte offset and separator.
%b the byte offset of the match.
%[ARG]T
if option -T is used: ARG and a tab character.
%t a tab character.
%[SEP]$
set field separator to SEP for the rest of the format fields.
%[ARG]<
if the first match: ARG.
%[ARG]>
if not the first match: ARG.
%, if not the first match: a comma, same as %[,]>.
%: if not the first match: a colon, same as %[:]>.
%; if not the first match: a semicolon, same as %[;]>.
%| if not the first match: a vertical bar, same as %[|]>.
%[ARG]S
if not the first match: ARG and separator, see also %[SEP]$.
%s the separator, see also %[ARG]S and %[SEP]$.
%~ a newline character.
%m the number of matches or matched files.
%O the matching line is output as a raw string of bytes.
%o the match is output as a raw string of bytes.
%Q the matching line as a quoted string, \" and \\ replace " and \.
%q the match as a quoted string, \" and \\ replace " and \.
%C the matching line formatted as a quoted C/C++ string.
%c the match formatted as a quoted C/C++ string.
%J the matching line formatted as a quoted JSON string.
%j the match formatted as a quoted JSON string.
%V the matching line formatted as a quoted CSV string.
%v the match formatted as a quoted CSV string.
%X the matching line formatted as XML character data.
%x the match formatted as XML character data.
%w the width of the match, counting wide characters.
%d the size of the match, counting bytes.
%e the ending byte offset of the match.
%Z the edit distance cost of an approximate match with option -Z
%u select unique lines only, unless option -u is used.
%1 the first regex group capture of the match, and so on up to group %9, same as %[1]#; requires
option -P.
%[NUM]#
the regex group capture NUM; requires option -P.
%[NUM]b
the byte offset of the group capture NUM; requires option -P. Use e for the ending byte offset
and d for the byte length.
%[NUM1|NUM2|...]#
the first group capture NUM that matched; requires option -P.
%[NUM1|NUM2|...]b
the byte offset of the first group capture NUM that matched; requires option -P. Use e for the
ending byte offset and d for the byte length.
%[NAME]#
the NAMEd group capture; requires option -P and capturing pattern `(?<NAME>PATTERN)', see also %G.
%[NAME]b
the byte offset of the NAMEd group capture; requires option -P and capturing pattern
`(?<NAME>PATTERN)'. Use e for the ending byte offset and d for the byte length.
%[NAME1|NAME2|...]#
the first NAMEd group capture that matched; requires option -P and capturing pattern
`(?<NAME>PATTERN)', see also %G.
%[NAME1|NAME2|...]b
the byte offset of the first NAMEd group capture that matched; requires option -P and capturing
pattern `(?<NAME>PATTERN)'. Use e for the ending byte offset and d for the byte length.
%G list of group capture indices/names that matched; requires option -P.
%[TEXT1|TEXT2|...]G
list of TEXT indexed by group capture indices that matched; requires option -P.
%g the group capture index/name matched or 1; requires option -P.
%[TEXT1|TEXT2|...]g
the first TEXT indexed by the first group capture index that matched; requires option -P.
%% the percentage sign.
Formatted output is written without a terminating newline, unless %~ or `\n' is explicitly specified in
the format string.
The [ARG] part of a field is optional and may be omitted. When present, the argument must be placed in
[] brackets, for example %[,]F to output a comma, the pathname, and a separator.
%[SEP]$ and %u are switches and do not send anything to the output.
The separator used by the %F, %H, %N, %K, %B, %S and %G fields may be changed by preceding the field by
%[SEP]$. When [SEP] is not provided, this reverts the separator to the default separator or the
separator specified with --separator.
Formatted output is written for each matching pattern, which means that a line may be output multiple
times when patterns match more than once on the same line. If field %u is specified anywhere in a format
string, matching lines are output only once, unless option -u, --ungroup is specified or when more than
one line of input matched the search pattern.
Additional formatting options:
--format-begin=FORMAT
the FORMAT when beginning the search.
--format-open=FORMAT
the FORMAT when opening a file and a match was found.
--format-close=FORMAT
the FORMAT when closing a file and a match was found.
--format-end=FORMAT
the FORMAT when ending the search.
The context options -A, -B, -C, -y, and display options --break, --heading, --color, -T, and --null have
no effect on formatted output.
EXAMPLES
Display lines containing the word `patricia' in `myfile.txt':
$ ugrep -w patricia myfile.txt
Display lines containing the word `patricia', ignoring case:
$ ugrep -wi patricia myfile.txt
Display lines approximately matching the word `patricia', ignoring case and allowing up to 2 spelling
errors using fuzzy search:
$ ugrep -Z2 -wi patricia myfile.txt
Count the number of lines containing `patricia', ignoring case:
$ ugrep -cwi patricia myfile.txt
Count the number of words `patricia', ignoring case:
$ ugrep -cowi patricia myfile.txt
List lines with both `amount' and a decimal number, ignoring case:
$ ugrep -wi --bool 'amount +(.+)?' myfile.txt
Alternative query:
$ ugrep -wi -e amount --and '+(.+)?' myfile.txt
List all Unicode words in a file:
$ ugrep -o '\w+' myfile.txt
List all ASCII words in a file:
$ ugrep -o '[[:word:]]+' myfile.txt
List the laughing face emojis (Unicode code points U+1F600 to U+1F60F):
$ ugrep -o '[\x{1F600}-\x{1F60F}]' myfile.txt
Check if a file contains any non-ASCII (i.e. Unicode) characters:
$ ugrep -q '[^[:ascii:]]' myfile.txt && echo "contains Unicode"
Display the line and column number of `FIXME' in C++ files using recursive search, with one line of
context before and after a matched line:
$ ugrep -C1 -R -n -k -tc++ FIXME
List the C/C++ comments in a file with line numbers:
$ ugrep -n -e '//.*' -e '/\*([^*]|(\*+[^*/]))*\*+\/' myfile.cpp
The same, but using predefined pattern c++/comments:
$ ugrep -n -f c++/comments myfile.cpp
List the lines that need fixing in a C/C++ source file by looking for the word `FIXME' while skipping any
`FIXME' in quoted strings:
$ ugrep -e FIXME -N '"(\\.|\\\r?\n|[^\\\n"])*"' myfile.cpp
The same, but using predefined pattern cpp/zap_strings:
$ ugrep -e FIXME -f cpp/zap_strings myfile.cpp
Find lines with `FIXME' or `TODO':
$ ugrep -n -e FIXME -e TODO myfile.cpp
Find lines with `FIXME' that also contain the word `urgent':
$ ugrep -n FIXME myfile.cpp | ugrep -w urgent
Find lines with `FIXME' but not the word `later':
$ ugrep -n FIXME myfile.cpp | ugrep -v -w later
Output a list of line numbers of lines with `FIXME' but not `later':
$ ugrep -n FIXME myfile.cpp | ugrep -vw later |
ugrep -P '^(\d+)' --format='%,%n'
Find lines with `FIXME' in the C/C++ files stored in a tarball:
$ ugrep -z -tc++ -n FIXME project.tgz
Recursively find lines with `FIXME' in C/C++ files, but do not search any `bak' and `old' directories:
$ ugrep -n FIXME -tc++ -g^bak/,^old/
Recursively search for the word `copyright' in cpio/jar/pax/tar/zip archives, compressed and regular
files, and in PDFs using a PDF filter:
$ ugrep -z -w --filter='pdf:pdftotext % -' copyright
Match the binary pattern `A3hhhhA3' (hex) in a binary file without Unicode pattern matching -U (which
would otherwise match `\xaf' as a Unicode character U+00A3 with UTF-8 byte sequence C2 A3) and display
the results in hex with --hexdump with C1 to output one hex line before and after each match:
$ ugrep -U --hexdump=C1 '\xa3[\x00-\xff]{2}\xa3' a.out
Hexdump an entire file using a pager for viewing:
$ ugrep -X --pager '' a.out
List all files that are not ignored by one or more `.gitignore':
$ ugrep -l '' --ignore-files
List all files containing a RPM signature, located in the `rpm' directory and recursively below up to two
levels deeper (3 levels total):
$ ugrep -3 -l -tRpm '' rpm/
Monitor the system log for bug reports and ungroup multiple matches on a line:
$ tail -f /var/log/system.log | ugrep -u -i -w bug
Interactive fuzzy search with Boolean search queries:
$ ugrep -Q --bool -Z3 --sort=best
Display all words in a MacRoman-encoded file that has CR newlines:
$ ugrep --encoding=MACROMAN '\w+' mac.txt
Display all options related to "fuzzy" searching:
$ ugrep --help fuzzy
BUGS
Report bugs at:
https://github.com/Genivia/ugrep/issues
LICENSE
ugrep is released under the BSD-3 license. All parts of the software have reasonable copyright terms
permitting free redistribution. This includes the ability to reuse all or parts of the ugrep source
tree.
SEE ALSO
grep(1).
ugrep 3.7.2 February 07, 2022 UGREP(1)