How to use xargs command in Linux with examples.
Here we will see what is xargs command and how can we use it to simplify the complex or long tasks on Linux.
What is xargs
Xargs stand for extended arguments.
It is used to provide extended arguments to a command from previous command/executable.
When xargs needed ?
It takes arguments automatically from standard input instead of waiting for manual intervention helps in making the scripts or automating tasks. Hence for any such requirement where the arguments to a command is to be provided automatically by standard input via output of another command, this command is useful.
xargs can handle bulk arguments. If you want to handle bulk arguments which can’t be handled by other commands directly like rm, cat, etc, then we you can use xargs.
How xargs reads arguments from previous command ?
To know how xargs reads from previous command, lets check out below example.
[root@nglinux ~]# ls | xargs file anaconda-ks.cfg: ASCII English text Desktop: directory Documents: directory Downloads: directory edit_host.sh: Bourne-Again shell script text executable install.log.syslog: ASCII text Music: directory Pictures: directory Public: directory Templates: directory test: directory Videos: directory [root@nglinux ~]#
In this example, we can see the output of ls command is sent to file command as an argument since xargs is used.
Now lets see another example of xargs to make it more clear.
XARGS example
Lets see an example where we will see what all files are there in directories present in CWD.
[root@nglinux ~]# ls -ltr | grep -i ^d | awk '{print $9}' | xargs ls
Desktop:
bluefish.desktop NGEL System Console.desktop
Install NGELinux on USB.desktop Terminal.desktop
Install NGELinux on your System Hard Disk.desktop
Documents:
Downloads:
Music:
Pictures:
Public:
Templates:
test:
file1 file2 file3 new.cpio test2
Videos:
[root@nglinux ~]#
Seems interesting and useful, so start using xargs command.
Do post your comments/questions/suggestions here.