LOOK(1) User Commands LOOK(1)
NAME
look - display lines beginning with a given string
SYNOPSIS
look [options] string [file]
DESCRIPTION
The look utility displays any lines in file which contain string. As look performs a binary search, the lines
in file must be sorted (where sort(1) got the same options -d and/or -f that look is invoked with).
If file is not specified, the file /usr/share/dict/words is used, only alphanumeric characters are compared
and the case of alphabetic characters is ignored.
OPTIONS
-a, --alternative
Use the alternative dictionary file.
-d, --alphanum
Use normal dictionary character set and order, i.e. only alphanumeric characters are compared. (This
is on by default if no file is specified.)
-f, --ignore-case
Ignore the case of alphabetic characters. (This is on by default if no file is specified.)
-t, --terminate character
Specify a string termination character, i.e. only the characters in string up to and including the
first occurrence of character are compared.
-h, --help
Display help text and exit.
-V, --version
Output version information and exit.
The look utility exits 0 if one or more lines were found and displayed, 1 if no lines were found, and >1 if an
error occurred.
EXAMPLE
sort -d /etc/passwd -o /tmp/look.dict
look -t: root:foobar /tmp/look.dict
FILES
/usr/share/dict/words
the dictionary
/usr/share/dict/web2
the alternative dictionary
SEE ALSO
grep(1), sort(1)
COMPATIBILITY
The original manual page stated that tabs and blank characters participated in comparisons when the alphanum
option was specified. This was incorrect, and the current man page matches the historic implementation.
HISTORY
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