file command in Linux with examples

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025

The 'file' command in Linux is a vital utility for determining the type of a file. It identifies file types by examining their content rather than their file extensions, making it an indispensable tool for users who work with various file formats. The file type can be displayed in a human-readable format (e.g., ASCII text) or as a MIME type (e.g., 'text/plain; charset=us-ascii'). The file command tests each argument provided to categorize it accurately.

How the 'file' Command Works

It has three sets of tests as follows:

filesystem test: This test is based on the result which returns from a 'stat' system call. The program verifies that if the file is empty, or if it's some sort of special file. This test causes the file type to be printed.
magic test: These tests are used to check for files with data in particular fixed formats.
language test: This test search for particular strings which can appear anywhere in the first few blocks of a file.

Syntax

file [option] [filename]

Example of 'file' Command

You can use the 'file' command with various files to determine their types:

file email.py           # Displays type of 'email.py'
file name.jpeg          # Displays type of 'name.jpeg'
file Invoice.pdf        # Displays type of 'Invoice.pdf'
file exam.ods           # Displays type of 'exam.ods'
file videosong.mp4      # Displays type of 'videosong.mp4'

Commonly Used Options with 'file' Command

'-b', '--brief': This is used to display just file type in brief mode. Syntax:

Syntax: 'file -b filename'

Example:

file -b email.py       # Shows just the file type
file -b input.txt      # Shows just the file type
file -b os.pdf         # Shows just the file type

Here, we can see that file type without filename.

'*' option : Command displays the all files's file type.
```
Syntax: file *
```
The output shows all files in the home directory
'directoryname/*' option : This is used to display all files filetypes in particular directory. Syntax:
```
Syntax: 'file directoryname/*'
```
Example:
```
file work/*
```
The output shows all files in a particular directory.
'[range]*' option: To display the file type of files in specific range. Syntax:
```
Syntax: file [range]*
```
Example:
```
file [a-z]*
file [a-e]*
```
The output shows the range of files.
'-c' option: Cause a checking printout of the parsed form of the magic file. This option is usually used in conjunction with the '-m' flag to debug a new magic file before installing it.
```
 Syntax: 'file -c'
```
Example:
```
file -c
```
'-f' option: Read the names of the files to be examined from namefile (one per line) before the argument list. Either namefile or atleast one filename argument must be present; to test the standard input, use ‘-’ as a filename argument. Syntax:
```
Syntax: 'file -f -'
```
'-F' option : File and file type are separated by :. But we can change separator using -F option Syntax:
```
Syntax: 'file -F "-" filename'
```
Example:
```
file -F - input.txt
file -F + os.pdf
```
The output shows file and file types are separated by - and +.

'-i' option: To view mime type of file. Syntax:

Syntax: 'file -i filename'

Example:

file -i input.txt
file -i os.pdf

'-N' option: Don't pad filenames so that they align in the output.
```
Syntax: 'file -N *'
```
Example:
```
file -N *
```

'-s' option: For special files Syntax:

Syntax: 'file -s filename'

Example:

file /dev/sda  
file -s /dev/sda  
file /dev/sda5  
file -s /dev/sda5

filenames: Displays file types of multiple files Syntax:
```
Syntax: 'file filenames'
```
Example:
```
file input.txt .local Desktop
```
'-z' option: Try to look inside compressed files. Example:
```
Syntax: 'file -z flash.tar.gz'
```
'--help' option: Print a help message and exit.