---
name: "locate.updatedb"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/locate.updatedb"
---

# locate.updatedb(8)

update locate database

## NAME

**locate.updatedb** – update locate database

## SYNOPSIS

**/usr/libexec/locate.updatedb**

## DESCRIPTION

The **locate.updatedb** utility updates the database used by [locate(1)](/locate/1.md). It is typically run once a week by the */etc/periodic/weekly/310.locate* script.

The contents of the newly built database can be controlled by the */etc/locate.rc* file.

## ENVIRONMENT

- *LOCATE\_CONFIG*

  path to the configuration file

## FILES

- */var/db/locate.database*

  the default database

- */etc/locate.rc*

  the configuration file

## SEE ALSO

[locate(1)](/locate/1.md), [periodic(8)](/periodic/8.md) Woods, James A., “Finding Files Fast”, *;login*, 8:1, pp. 8-10, 1983.