Discovering the Power of xargs Command in Linux
Tags: beginners, bash, linux
Published: 2023-02-22 19:38:49

---

### **_Introduction_**
The `xargs` command in Linux is a powerful tool that allows you to run commands based on input from another command. It is often used in conjunction with other commands such as `find`, `grep`, and `ls` to perform operations on a large number of files or data. In this blog, we'll explore some of the key features and benefits of `xargs` and provide some examples to demonstrate its usage.

### **_Basic Usage of xargs_**
The basic usage of `xargs` is to pass the output of one command as input to another command. For example, you can use the following command to delete all `.txt` files in the current directory:

```
find . -name "*.txt" | xargs rm
```

![Image 1](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/26spdxph38q0snwy50ky.png)

![Image 2](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/mv8u7xqgoqos7gqj63yi.png)

Here, `find` is used to search for all `.txt` files, and `xargs` takes the output of find and passes it as input to `rm`, which deletes the files.

### **_Adding Command Options with xargs_**
`xargs` also allows you to add options to the commands it runs. For example, you can use the following command to list all `.txt` files in the current directory with their full path:

```
find . -name "*.txt" | xargs ls -l
```

![Image 3](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/8i9vxa6xqsyuv8qc6czx.png)

Here, `-l` is an option for the `ls` command, and `xargs` adds it to the `ls` command when it runs.

### **_Using xargs with find and grep_**
One of the most common use cases for `xargs` is to run commands based on the output of `find` and `grep`. For example, you can use the following command to find all `.txt` files in the current directory containing the word "example":

```
find . -name "*.txt" | xargs grep -l "example"
```

![Image 4](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/fuh6v0aiqsok5cm9o0gd.png)

Here, `grep` is used to search for the word "example" in each `.txt` file, and `xargs` takes the output of `grep` and passes it as input to the `-l` option, which only lists the file names, not the matching lines.

### **_Using xargs with -I Option_**
The `-I` option allows you to specify a placeholder in the command line that `xargs` will replace with the input. For example, you can use the following command to rename all `.txt` files in the current directory with the `.bak` extension:

```
find . -name "*.txt" | xargs -I {} mv {} {}.bak
```

![Image 5](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/twdhqu7fmge8po93ocmf.png)

Here, `-I {}` specifies that the input from `find` will replace `{}` in the `mv` command, which renames the files.

### **_Conclusion_**
In conclusion, `xargs` is a powerful tool in the Linux command line that allows you to run commands based on input from another command. Whether you're working with `find`, `grep`, or any other command, `xargs` can greatly simplify your workflow and help you automate repetitive tasks. Try incorporating `xargs` into your daily Linux routine, and you'll quickly discover its many benefits.

**_Thank you for reading_** 🧑‍💻

**_Stay tuned for more_** 🚀

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