find Command in Linux/Unix

find Command in Linux/Unix

find command recursively examines a directory to look for files that matches some criteria and takes some action on the the selected files.


Syntax


find path_list selection_criteria action


1. path_list : It comprises one or more sub-directories separated by white-space.
2. selection_criteria : Use to match a file.
3. action : appropriate action.

Example

Let's find all files named new.java

$ find / -name new.java -print

Here
 /   path_list
-name selection_criteria
-print  action

Major Options Used by find command

Selction Criteria	Meaning
-inum n	Having inode number n Example find  /  -inum  23456  -print (select file having inode number 23456)
-type x	select files depending upon their type , x can be f (ordinary file) d(directory) etc. Example find . -type d -print (select all directories of home folder)
-perm nnn	If octal permission match nnn completely Example find $HOME -perm 777 -type d -print (select all directories having permission 777 in your home directory)
-mtime -x	If modified in less than x days Example find $HOME -mtime -2 -print (select all files that have been modified in less than 2 days)
-mmin -x	If modified in less than x minutes Example find $HOME -mmin -2 -print (select all files that have been modified in less than 2 minutes)
-amin +x	If accessed in more than x minutes Example find $HOME -amin +2 -print (select all files that have been accessed in more than 2 minutes)
-atime +x	If acessed in more than x days Example find $HOME -atime +365 -print (select all files that have been accessed in more than a year)
-name fname	select files having fname as its name Example find $HOME -name list -print (select all list files in home directory)
-iname fname	same as above but match is case-insensitive Example find $HOME -iname list -print (select all list,LIST , List , list etc files in home directory)

Operators Used by find Command

1. ! : Negation

Example

find all files except java files in your home directory

$ find $HOME ! -name "*.java" -print

2. -a : AND condition

Example

find all files java and shell script files

$ find $HOME \(-name "*.sh" -a -name "*.java" \) -print

3. -o : OR condition

Example

find all files java or shell script files

$ find $HOME \(-name "*.sh" -o -name "*.java" \) -print

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