ZGREP(1)

NAME
zgrep - search compressed files for a regular expression

SYNOPSIS
zgrep [options] <pattern> [files]

DESCRIPTION
zgrep is a front end to the program grep that allows transparent search on any combination of compressed and uncompressed files. If any file given is compressed, its decompressed content is used. If a file given does not exist, and its name does not end with one of the known extensions, zgrep tries the compressed file names corresponding to the formats supported. If a file fails to decompress, zgrep continues searching the rest of the files.

If a file is specified as '-', data are read from standard input, decompressed if needed, and fed to grep. Data read from standard input must be of the same type; all uncompressed or all in the same compressed format.

If no files are specified, recursive searches examine the current working directory, and nonrecursive searches read standard input.

'zgrep --verbose -V' prints the version of the grep program used.

The formats supported are bzip2, gzip, lzip, xz, and zstd.

Exit status is 0 if match, 1 if no match, 2 if trouble. Some options only work if the grep program used supports them.

OPTIONS

--help
    display this help and exit

-V, --version
    output version information and exit

-a, --text
    treat all files as text

-A, --after-context=<n>
    print <n> lines of trailing context

-b, --byte-offset
    print the byte offset of each line

-B, --before-context=<n>
    print <n> lines of leading context

-c, --count
    only print a count of matching lines per file

-C, --context=<n>
    print <n> lines of output context

--color[=<when>]
    show matched strings in color

-e, --regexp=<pattern>
    use <pattern> as the pattern to match

-E, --extended-regexp
    <pattern> is an extended regular expression

-f, --file=<file>
    obtain patterns from <file>

-F, --fixed-strings
    <pattern> is a set of newline-separated strings

-G, --basic-regexp
    <pattern> is a basic regular expression (default)

-h, --no-filename
    suppress the prefixing file name on output

-H, --with-filename
    print the file name for each match

-i, --ignore-case
    ignore case distinctions

-I  ignore binary files

-l, --files-with-matches
    only print names of files containing matches

-L, --files-without-match
    only print names of files containing no matches

--label=<label>
    use <label> as file name for standard input

--line-buffered
    flush output on every line

-m, --max-count=<n>
    stop after <n> matches

-M, --format=<list>
    process only the formats in <list>

-n, --line-number
    print the line number of each line

-N, --no-rcfile
    don't read runtime configuration file

-o, --only-matching
    show only the part of a line matching <pattern>

-O, --force-format=<fmt>
    force the input format

-P, --perl-regexp
    <pattern> is a Perl regular expression

-q, --quiet, --silent
    suppress all messages

-r, --recursive
    operate recursively on directories

-R, --dereference-recursive
    recursively follow symbolic links

-s, --no-messages
    suppress error messages

-T, --initial-tab
    make tabs line up (if needed)

-U, --binary
    don't strip CR characters at EOL (DOS/Windows)

-v, --invert-match
    select non-matching lines

--verbose
    verbose mode (show error messages)

-w, --word-regexp
    match only whole words

-x, --line-regexp
    match only whole lines

-Z, --null
    print 0 byte (ASCII NUL) after file name

--bz2=<command>
    set compressor and options for bzip2 format

--gz=<command>
    set compressor and options for gzip format

--lz=<command>
    set compressor and options for lzip format

--xz=<command>
    set compressor and options for xz format

--zst=<command>
    set compressor and options for zstd format

Valid formats for options '-M' and '-O' are 'bz2', 'gz', 'lz', 'xz', 'zst', and 'un' for uncompressed.

Numbers may be followed by a multiplier: k = kB = 10^3 = 1000, Ki = KiB = 2^10 = 1024, M = 10^6, Mi = 2^20, G = 10^9, Gi = 2^30, etc...

REPORTING BUGS
Report bugs to zutils-bug@nongnu.org
Zutils home page: http://www.nongnu.org/zutils/zutils.html

COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2023 Antonio Diaz Diaz. License GPLv2+: GNU GPL version 2 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

SEE ALSO
The full documentation for zgrep is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the info and zgrep programs are properly installed at your site, the command

    info zutils

should give you access to the complete manual.