NAME

       look - find lines in a sorted list

SYNOPSIS

       look [ -dfnixtc ] [ string ] [ file ]

DESCRIPTION

       Look  consults  a sorted file and prints all lines that begin with string.  It uses binary
       search.

       The following options are recognized.  Options dfnt affect comparisons as in sort(1).

       -i     Interactive.  There is no string  argument;  instead  look  takes  lines  from  the
              standard input as strings to be looked up.

       -x     Exact.  Print only lines of the file whose key matches string exactly.

       -d     `Directory'   order:   only   letters,  digits,  tabs  and  blanks  participate  in
              comparisons.

       -f     Fold.  Upper case letters compare equal to lower case.

       -n     Numeric comparison with initial string of digits, optional minus sign, and optional
              decimal point.

       -t[c]  Character  c  terminates  the sort key in the file.  By default, tab terminates the
              key.  If c is missing the entire line comprises the key.

       If no file is specified, /lib/words is assumed, with collating sequence df.

FILES

       /lib/words

SOURCE

       /src/cmd/look.c

SEE ALSO

       sort(1), grep(1)

DIAGNOSTICS

       The exit status is ``not found'' if no match is found, and ``no dictionary''  if  file  or
       the default dictionary cannot be opened.

                                                                                     LOOK(1plan9)