file(C)                         19 June 1992                         file(C)


 Name

    file - determine file type

 Syntax

    file [ -cL ] [ -f ffile ] [ -m mfile ] arg ...

 Description

    The file command performs a series of tests on each argument in an
    attempt to classify it.  If an argument appears to be ASCII, file exam-
    ines the first 512 bytes and tries to guess its language.  If an argument
    is an executable a.out, file will print the version stamp, provided it is
    greater than 0.


    -c  The -c option causes file to check the magic file for format errors.
        This validation is not normally carried out for reasons of effi-
        ciency.  No file typing is done under -c.

    -L  The -L option causes file to follow symbolic links.  By default, sym-
        bolic links are not followed.

    -f  If the -f option is given, the next argument is taken to be a file
        containing the names of the files to be examined.

    -m  The -m option instructs file to use an alternate magic file.

    The file command uses the file /etc/magic to identify files that have
    some sort of ``magic number''; that is, any file containing a numeric or
    string constant that indicates its type.  Commentary at the beginning of
    /etc/magic explains its format.

 Files

    /etc/magic

 See also

    filehdr(FP)

 Standards conformance

    file is conformant with:

    AT&T SVID Issue 2;
    and X/Open Portability Guide, Issue 3, 1989.