Description: Glob is a pattern matching syntax used in command-line interfaces to match file names or paths. This technique allows users to specify patterns that can include wildcard characters, making it easier to select multiple files or directories without the need to list them individually. The most common characters in glob syntax are the asterisk (*) which represents any number of characters, the question mark (?) which represents a single character, and brackets ([]) which allow defining a set of possible characters. The functionality of glob is especially useful in command-line environments, where efficiency and speed are essential. By using glob, users can perform operations on groups of files, such as copying, moving, or deleting, more effectively. This feature is fundamental in various shell environments, where file manipulation is a common and necessary task for system administration.
History: The concept of globbing originated in the early days of Unix in the 1970s as a way to simplify interaction with the file system. As shells evolved, globbing features were incorporated to facilitate pattern matching in file names. Various shells have expanded globbing capabilities, allowing for more complex patterns and advanced options that enhanced user experience compared to earlier systems.
Uses: Glob is primarily used in command-line environments to facilitate the selection of files and directories. It allows users to perform operations on multiple files at once, such as copying, moving, or deleting, without having to specify each individual file. Additionally, it is common in shell scripts, where manipulating sets of files based on specific patterns is required.
Examples: An example of using glob in a shell would be the command ‘ls *.txt’, which would list all files with the .txt extension in the current directory. Another example would be ‘cp file?.jpg /backup/’, which would copy all files that start with ‘file’ and have a single additional character before the .jpg extension to the /backup directory.
