NAME

       zgrep - search compressed files for a regular expression

SYNOPSIS

       zgrep [options] <pattern> [files]

DESCRIPTION

       zgrep is a front end to the program grep that allows transparent search on any combination
       of compressed and uncompressed files. If any file given is  compressed,  its  decompressed
       content is used. If a file given does not exist, and its name does not end with one of the
       known extensions, zgrep tries the compressed  file  names  corresponding  to  the  formats
       supported. If a file fails to decompress, zgrep continues searching the rest of the files.

       If  a file is specified as '-', data are read from standard input, decompressed if needed,
       and fed to grep. Data read from standard input must be of the same type; all  uncompressed
       or all in the same compressed format.

       If  no  files are specified, recursive searches examine the current working directory, and
       nonrecursive searches read standard input.

       'zgrep --verbose -V' prints the version of the grep program used.

       The formats supported are bzip2, gzip, lzip, xz, and zstd.

       Exit status is 0 if match, 1 if no match, 2 if trouble.  Some options  only  work  if  the
       grep program used supports them.

OPTIONS

       --help display this help and exit

       -V, --version
              output version information and exit

       -a, --text
              treat all files as text

       -A, --after-context=<n>
              print <n> lines of trailing context

       -b, --byte-offset
              print the byte offset of each line

       -B, --before-context=<n>
              print <n> lines of leading context

       -c, --count
              only print a count of matching lines per file

       -C, --context=<n>
              print <n> lines of output context

       --color[=<when>]
              show matched strings in color

       -e, --regexp=<pattern>
              use <pattern> as the pattern to match

       -E, --extended-regexp
              <pattern> is an extended regular expression

       -f, --file=<file>
              obtain patterns from <file>

       -F, --fixed-strings
              <pattern> is a set of newline-separated strings

       -G, --basic-regexp
              <pattern> is a basic regular expression (default)

       -h, --no-filename
              suppress the prefixing file name on output

       -H, --with-filename
              print the file name for each match

       -i, --ignore-case
              ignore case distinctions

       -I     ignore binary files

       -l, --files-with-matches
              only print names of files containing matches

       -L, --files-without-match
              only print names of files containing no matches

       --label=<label>
              use <label> as file name for standard input

       --line-buffered
              flush output on every line

       -m, --max-count=<n>
              stop after <n> matches

       -M, --format=<list>
              process only the formats in <list>

       -n, --line-number
              print the line number of each line

       -N, --no-rcfile
              don't read runtime configuration file

       -o, --only-matching
              show only the part of a line matching <pattern>

       -O, --force-format=<fmt>
              force the input format

       -P, --perl-regexp
              <pattern> is a Perl regular expression

       -q, --quiet, --silent
              suppress all messages

       -r, --recursive
              operate recursively on directories

       -R, --dereference-recursive
              recursively follow symbolic links

       -s, --no-messages
              suppress error messages

       -T, --initial-tab
              make tabs line up (if needed)

       -U, --binary
              don't strip CR characters at EOL (DOS/Windows)

       -v, --invert-match
              select non-matching lines

       --verbose
              verbose mode (show error messages)

       -w, --word-regexp
              match only whole words

       -x, --line-regexp
              match only whole lines

       -Z, --null
              print 0 byte (ASCII NUL) after file name

       --bz2=<command>
              set compressor and options for bzip2 format

       --gz=<command>
              set compressor and options for gzip format

       --lz=<command>
              set compressor and options for lzip format

       --xz=<command>
              set compressor and options for xz format

       --zst=<command>
              set compressor and options for zstd format

       Valid  formats  for options '-M' and '-O' are 'bz2', 'gz', 'lz', 'xz', 'zst', and 'un' for
       uncompressed.

       Numbers may be followed by a multiplier: k = kB = 10^3 = 1000, Ki = KiB = 2^10 = 1024, M =
       10^6, Mi = 2^20, G = 10^9, Gi = 2^30, etc...

REPORTING BUGS

       Report bugs to zutils-bug@nongnu.org
       Zutils home page: http://www.nongnu.org/zutils/zutils.html

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright  ©  2023  Antonio  Diaz  Diaz.   License  GPLv2+:  GNU  GPL  version  2 or later
       <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>
       This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO  WARRANTY,
       to the extent permitted by law.

SEE ALSO

       The full documentation for zgrep is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the info and zgrep
       programs are properly installed at your site, the command

              info zutils

       should give you access to the complete manual.