The grep
command is a command-line utility in Unix-like operating systems used for searching and pattern matching within text files.
It allows users to search for specific strings or patterns in one or multiple files and is a powerful tool for text processing.
Common use cases for the grep
command include pattern searching, filtering output, recursive search, counting matches, and using regular expressions for complex search patterns.
For example, running grep "error" logfile.txt
would search for the word "error" in the logfile.txt
file and display lines containing the pattern.
The grep
command is an essential tool for analyzing and manipulating text data, making it a versatile choice for tasks ranging from basic pattern searching to more advanced text processing operations.