ZGREP(1)

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.

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

--exclude=<pattern>
    exclude files matching a shell pattern

-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.

EXIT STATUS
0 if at least one match was found, 1 if no matches were found, 2 if error.

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

COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2026 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.