grep

grep is a command-line utility for searching plain-text data sets for lines that match a regular expression. It is widely used in Unix-like operating systems for filtering and extracting specific patterns from files or streams. The name stands for 'global regular expression print', reflecting its core functionality of pattern matching and output.

Also known as: grep command, global regular expression print, grep utility, grep tool, grep search

Why learn grep?

Developers should learn grep for efficient text processing, debugging, and log analysis in command-line environments. It is essential for tasks like searching codebases for specific functions, parsing log files for errors, or filtering command outputs in shell scripts. Its integration with pipes and other Unix tools makes it a fundamental skill for automation and system administration.

Learning Resources

• docs: GNU Grep Manual
• tutorial: Grep Tutorial on Linuxize
• course: Grep Course on freeCodeCamp
• video: Grep Video Tutorial by Corey Schafer