The Linux locate Command: Fast File Search
The Linux locate Command: Fast File Search
locate searches a prebuilt database of files, making it orders of magnitude faster than find. Use it for quick file lookups.
Basic Usage
locate myfile.txt
locate "*.pdf"
Find files by name pattern.
Update database
sudo updatedb
Rebuild the search database (run as root).
Options
Case insensitive
locate -i myfile
Ignores case.
Count only
locate -c "*.log"
Show count, not paths.
Limit results
locate -l 10 "*.conf"
Limit to 10 results.
Existing files
locate -e "*.txt"
Only existing files (skip deleted).
