![Forrest logo](/images/logo.png)
file:tldr:1c6c1
file: Don't stop at first file type match; keep going until the end of the file.
$ file -k ${filename}
try on your machine
The command "file -k ${filename}" is used to identify the type or format of a file.
Here's a breakdown of the different components of the command:
- "file" is a command-line utility in Unix-like systems (including Linux) that examines the given file(s) and provides detailed information about their type and format.
- "-k" is an option/flag that is specific to the "file" command. It tells the command to analyze the file(s) using the magic pattern database, which contains information about various file types based on their content.
- "${filename}" is a placeholder for the actual name or path of the file you want to analyze. It should be replaced with the appropriate file name or path for the command to work correctly.
Overall, when you execute "file -k ${filename}", the command will use the magic pattern database to determine and display the probable type or format of the specified file.
This explanation was created by an AI. In most cases those are correct. But please always be careful and
never run a command you are not sure if it is safe.