Linux Xargs

Introduction to Linux Xargs

In the Linux operating system, we are having multiple utilities to work on the streaming or live data. Xargs is one of the utility. It is used to capture the stream data from the standard input. After that, it will generate and perform the execution on arguments commands. In other words, we can say that it will get the previous command output as input to the next command. The output result will be useful for the next or arguments command.

As of GNU packages, we are getting the xargs version 4.2.X. The default behavior of the xargs tool or utilizes is not to have the logical end of file marker.

Syntax

Linux Command [ OPTIONS ] [ FILE/DIRECTORY PATH ] | [ xargs ] [ OPTIONS ] [ LINUX COMMAND ]

• xargs: We can use the “xargs” keyword in the syntax or command. It will take different arguments like options, Linux commands, etc. As per the provided arguments, it will pass the output data to the next command (as an input).
• OPTIONS: We can provide the different flags as the option that is compatible with the “xargs” command.

How Linux Xargs Works?

The xargs are basically working on the input and output arguments. While working with the xargs utility, it will grab the previous command output and pass the same output as in input to the next command. As per the shared input to the next command, it will perform the execution of the command.

Below are the lists of option that are compatible with the xargs command.

Sr No	Option	Description
1	-0, –null	Instead of by whitespace, the input items will terminate by a null character. With the help of this option, the quotes and backslash are not special.
2	-a file, –arg-file=file	Instead of the standard input option, it will read items from the file. If we will use the same option then the stdin remains unchanged when the commands are running in the state.
3	-E eof-str	It will help to set the end of file string to eof-str. The rest of the input may ignore. If the end of file string occurs as a line of input.
4	-e [eof-str], –eof[=eof-str]	The same option is a synonym for the -E option. It is POSIX compliant while this option is not. There is no end of file string, if eof-str will omit.
5	-i [replace-str], –replace[=replace-str]	The same option is a synonym for -Ireplace-str. If the argument is missing then the effect is the same as -I{}. But the option is deprecated, we need to use the option -I.
6	-L max-lines	We need to use the same option while the most max-lines are nonblank input lines (as per the command line). The trailing blanks may cause an input line to be logically continued on the next input line.
7	-l [max-lines], –max-lines[=max-lines]	The -l option is deprecated. IF we need to use the same option we need to use the “-L” Synonym. Unlike -L, the max-lines argument is optional.
8	-p, –interactive	It will prompt the user level command. Whether to run each command line and read a line from the terminal. It will run in the verbose format. It will only run the input command if the user will share the response as “y” i.e. “yes”.
9	–process-slot-var=name	It will help to set the environment variable value or name (the value will be unique) in each running process. Once the child process will exit, we can reuse the same value.
10	-r, –no-run-if-empty	It will do not run the command if the standard input does not contain any nonblank. When there is no input then the command is run once. This option comes under the GNU extension.

Examples to Implement Linux Xargs

1. Linux Xargs Command

In the Linux environment, we are able to use the xargs command with the different operator.

Command :

ls *.jpg | xargs tar -cvzf img_jpg.tar.gz

Explanation :

As per the above command, we are listing the number of jpg images from the “/root/data” directory. Here, we are using the combination of multiple commands like ls, xargs, tar. With the help of xargs command, we are taking the list of files from the “ls” command and provide the same output files as an input to the tar command. Once the tar command will get the file, it will create the “img_jpg.tar.gz” tar file.

Output :

2. Linux Xargs Command – Listing Lines/Words/Characters

In xargs command, we can list out the selected files in terms of lines, words, characters.

Command :

ls *.jpg | xargs wc

Explanation :

As per the above command, we are listing the number of jpg files and get the information of number lines, words, characters of sorted files.

Output :

3. Linux Xargs Command: Remove Selected Files

In the Linux environment, we are able to use the xargs command to delete the specific set of files.

Command :

find. -name "*.png" | xargs rm -v -rf "{}"

Explanation :

As per the above command, we are listing the number of png images and creating tar file with the help xargs utility.

Output :

4. Linux Xargs Command – Read Input File

In the xargs command, we are having the functionality to read the file.

Command :

xargs -a text.txt

Explanation :

As per the above command, we are a list of files in the “/root/data” directory. With the help of xargs command, we are able to read the “text.txt” file. For reading the file, we need to use the “-a” option with the “xargs” command.

Output :

Conclusion

We have seen the uncut concept of “Linux Xargs” with the proper example, explanation, and command with different outputs. The xargs utility is use to get the outputs from the previous command and send the same output as an input to the next command. The xargs command or utility is majorly used in the shell/bash or application-level jobs.

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