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
- -b, --brief
Brief mode: don’t print filenames.
- -c, --checking-printout
Check the format of the magic file (
files
argument is invalid with -c). Usually used with -m.-
-F
separator
, --separatorseparator
Print
separator
between file and type, instead of a colon.-
-f
file
, --files-fromfile
Read the names of files to be checked from
file
.- -i, --mime
Print the MIME type of the file instead of a human-readable description.
- -k, --keep-going
Don’t stop after the first match.
- -L, --dereference
Follow symbolic links. By default, symbolic links are not followed.
-
-m
file
, --magic-filefile
Search for file types in
file
instead of /etc/magic.- -N, --no-pad
Don’t pad filenames for alignment.
- -v, --version
Print the version.
- -z, --uncompress
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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