How Does Xargs Work in Linux?
Contents

Xargs is a great command that reads streams of data from standard input, then generates and executes command lines; meaning it can take output of a command and passes it as argument of another command. If no command is specified, xargs executes echo by default.

How use xargs Linux?

10 Xargs Command Examples in Linux / UNIX

  1. Xargs Basic Example. …
  2. Specify Delimiter Using -d option. …
  3. Limit Output Per Line Using -n Option. …
  4. Prompt User Before Execution using -p option. …
  5. Avoid Default /bin/echo for Blank Input Using -r Option. …
  6. Print the Command Along with Output Using -t Option. …
  7. Combine Xargs with Find Command.

What does xargs do in Linux?

xargs (short for “eXtended ARGuments”) is a command on Unix and most Unix-like operating systems used to build and execute commands from standard input. It converts input from standard input into arguments to a command.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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