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)