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 until one is found. 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 © 2024  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.