Linux Server and Workstation Configuration How To

Command file

file command displays the type of data file based on rules defined in the file /usr/lib/magic (known as the magicfile).

Syntax

Options

-c displays formatted in a specified magic file (or file by default) and exits.
-m file1 [: file2: ... ] Indicates that other magic files.
-z scans compressed files.

Description

To determine the type of data in these files, the file command uses the rules specified in the file /usr/lib/magic. For example, using the command file you check the type of each file in the directory /usr/lib as follows: file * | more