---
name: "dircolors"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dircolors"
---

# dircolors(1)

color setup for ls

## NAME

dircolors - color setup for ls

## SYNOPSIS

**dircolors** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*FILE*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Output commands to set the LS\_COLORS environment variable.

### Determine format of output:

- **-b, --sh, --bourne-shell**

  output Bourne shell code to set LS\_COLORS

- **-c, --csh, --c-shell**

  output C shell code to set LS\_COLORS

- **-p, --print-database**

  output defaults

- **--print-ls-colors**

  output fully escaped colors for display

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

If FILE is specified, read it to determine which colors to use for which file types and extensions.  Otherwise, a precompiled database is used. For details on the format of these files, run 'dircolors **--print-database**'.

## AUTHOR

Written by H. Peter Anvin.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/dircolors\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) dircolors invocation'