Name
file
Synopsis
file [options
]files
Classify the named files according to the type
of data they contain. file
checks the magic file
(/etc/magic) to identify some file types.
Options
-
-c
Check the format of the magic file (files argument is invalid with
-c
). Usually used with-m
.-
-f
file
Read the names of files to be checked from file.
-
-L
Follow symbolic links. By default, symbolic links are not followed.
-
-m
file
Search for file types in file instead of /etc/magic.
-
-v
Print the version.
-
-z
Attempt checking of compressed files.
Many file types are understood. Output lists each filename, followed by a brief classification such as:
Apple QuickTime movie file (moov) ASCII text data directory gzip compressed data empty PDF document, version 1.4 Mach-O executable ppc sticky symbolic link to private/tmp
Example
List all PDF Version 1.1 files:
file * | grep "PDF document, version 1.1"
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