The search is recursive in that it will search all sub directories too. If you are a beginner, the following examples will make you clear about the find command.
1. Find full path of all files in the current and its sub-directories
The following commands locate and display the full path names of all files in the current directory and its sub-directories:
vpscheap#:~$ find . vpscheap#:~$ find . -print vpscheap#:~$ find -print2. Find files using name in current directory
The following commands will search the files with their name. Say for example, if your file name is vpscheap.txt, then you can find this file using anyone of the below commands.
To find the file whose name is vpscheap.txt in your current directory, enter the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -name vpscheap.txt ./vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap.txt ./Documents/vpscheap.txtor
vpscheap#:~$ find . -name vpscheap.txt ./vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap.txt ./Documents/vpscheap.txt3. Find files using name in a particular directory
This command will find the file from the directory that you have mentioned with find command. For example, to find the file whose name is vpscheap.txt in ~/ directory, enter the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find /home/ -name vpscheap.txt /home/vpscheap/vpscheap.txt /home/vpscheap/Downloads/vpscheap.txt /home/vpscheap/Documents/vpscheap.txt4. Find files in your whole Computer
If you are not sure where exactly is your file (eg. vpscheap.txt), the following command will find it for you:
vpscheap#:~$ sudo find / -name vpscheap.txt /home/vpscheap/vpscheap.txt /home/vpscheap/Downloads/vpscheap.txt /home/vpscheap/Documents/vpscheap.txtThe above command will search the file vpscheap.txt in your root (/) directory and all its sub-directories.
5. Find files ignoring case sensitivity
To find a file ignoring case sensitivity (whether the file name contain small or uppercase letters) use -iname parameter with find command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -iname vpscheap.txt ./vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap.txt ./Documents/vpscheap.txtAs you seen in the above command, I have used combination of small and capital letters. The find command will ignore the case sensitivity and find the actual file vpscheap.txt.
6. Limit search to specific directory level
The following command will find the file vpscheap.txt upto one directory level from root directory:
vpscheap#:~$ find -maxdepth 2 -name vpscheap.txt ./vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap.txt ./Documents/vpscheap.txtTo find the file up to two directory level specify the maxdepth as example 3:
vpscheap#:~$ find -maxdepth 3 -name vpscheap.txt ./vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap/vpscheap.txt ./Documents/vpscheap.txt7. Find file using with its extension
For instance if you want to find all files with extensions FLV, enter the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -type f -name *.FLV ./Entertainment/Video Songs/RightNow.FLVIf you know the exact name and extension of the file, then the command should be:
vpscheap#:~$ find -type f -name RightNow.FLV ./Entertainment/Video Songs/RightNow.FLV8. Find Files depending upon the size
To search files based on their size, use the parameter -size with find command.
To find the files which are 1GB or more enter the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -size +1G ./VirtualBox VMs/Ubuntu 12.10 server_ 1 nic_ Internet_ Bridge/Ubuntu 12.10 server_ 1 nic_ Internet_ Bridge.vdi ./Soft_Backup/OS Images/CentOS-6.3-i386-bin-DVD2.iso ./Soft_Backup/OS Images/CentOS-6.3-i386-bin-DVD1.iso ./Soft_Backup/OS Images/Win 7 Pro.isoTo search files in a particular directory which are 1GB or more, the command should be:
vpscheap#:~$ find Soft_Backup/ -size +1G Soft_Backup/OS Images/CentOS-6.3-i386-bin-DVD2.iso Soft_Backup/OS Images/CentOS-6.3-i386-bin-DVD1.iso Soft_Backup/OS Images/Win 7 Pro.isoTo search files which are less than 1GB, enter the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -size -1GIf your file size is exactly 10MB, just ignore the + or – sign. The command will be:
vpscheap#:~$ find -size 10M9. Find files with their Owner or Group name
To search the files whose Owner is vpscheap, enter the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -user vpscheap -name vpscheap.txt ./vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap/vpscheap.txt ./Documents/vpscheap.txtTo search files whose Group is vpscheap, find them using the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -group vpscheap -name vpscheap.txt ./vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap.txt ./Downloads/vpscheap/vpscheap.txt ./Documents/vpscheap.txt10. Find files with their permissions
Search for a particular file whose permissions is set to 777 using the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -perm 777 -name vpscheap.txtSearch for all files whose permissions are set to 777 using the following command:
vpscheap#:~$ find -perm 775Search a particular file whose owner permissions are set to read-only:
vpscheap#:~$ find -perm /u=rSearch all files whose permissions are set to executable to all:
vpscheap#:~$ find -perm /a=xFor more information about find command usages, refer the man pages.
vpscheap#:~$ man find
