locate

Purpose

From a periodically updated database, list all files that match a specified pattern.

Syntax

locate pattern

Options

None

Description

The locate command searches a database of files for any name that matches a specified pattern. Your Linux system is set up to update the file database periodically. If you are not sure about the location of a file, just type locate followed by a part of the filename. For example, here's how you can search for the XF86Config file:

locate XF86Config

/etc/X11/XF86Config

/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config

/usr/X11R6/man/man5/XF86Config.5x.gz