--- name: "rename" section: "1p" platform: "linux" package: "perl-rename" version: "1.16.3-1" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/rename/1p" --- # rename(1p) rename multiple files using perl expressions ## NAME rename - rename multiple files using perl expressions ## SYNOPSIS **rename** \[**-bcfgilnv**\] \[**-B** *prefix*\] \[**-C** *command*\] \[**-S** *suffix*\] \[**-V** *method*\] \[**-Y** *prefix*\] \[**-z** *suffix*\] \[**--backup**\] \[**--command=***command*\] \[**--copy**\] \[**--basename-prefix=***prefix*\] \[**--dry-run**\] \[**--force**\] \[**--help**\] \[**--no-stdin**\] \[**--interactive**\] \[**--just-print**\] \[**--link-only**\] \[**--prefix=***prefix*\] \[**--suffix=***suffix*\] \[**--verbose**\] \[**--version-control=***method*\] \[**--version**\] *perlexpr* \[*files*\]... ## DESCRIPTION *rename* renames the filenames supplied according to the rule specified as the first argument. The argument is a Perl expression which is expected to modify the `$_` string for at least some of the filenames specified. If a given filename is not modified by the expression, it will not be renamed. If no filenames are given on the command line, filenames will be read via standard input (unless **--no-stdin** is supplied on the command line). If a destination file is unwritable, the standard input is a tty, and the **-f** or **--force** option is not given, rename prompts the user for whether to overwrite the file. If the response does not begin with \`y' or \`Y', the file is skipped. ## OPTIONS - **-b**, **--backup** Make backup files. That is, when about to overwrite a file, rename the original instead of removing it. See the **-V** or **--version-control** option fo details about how backup file names are determined. - **-B** *prefix*, **--prefix=***prefix* Use the **simple** method to determine backup file names (see the **-V** *method* or **--version-control=***method* option), and prepend *prefix* to a file name when generating its backup file name. - **-c**, **--copy** Copy files to the new names instead of renaming them. This will keep the original files. - **-C** *command*, **--cmd** *command*, **--command** *command* Use *command* to process files instead of rename. *command* can contain two instances of {}, the first will be replaced with the original filename, the second with the new. Without any {}'s, the old and new filename will be appended to the *command*. - **-f**, **--force** Remove existing destination files and never prompt the user. - **-g**, **--git** Shortcut for **--command "git mv"**. - **-h**, **--help** Print a summary of options and exit. - **--no-stdin** Disable reading of filenames from STDIN. Us it when your shell has nullglob enabled to make sure rename doesn't wait for input. - **-i**, **--interactive** Prompt whether to overwrite each destination file that already exists. If the response does not begin with \`y' or \`Y', the file is skipped. - **-l**, **--link-only** Link files to the new names instead of renaming them. This will keep the original files. - **-n**, **--just-print**, **--dry-run** Do everything but the actual renaming, instead just print the name of each file that would be renamed. When used together with **--verbose**, also print names of backups (which may or may not be correct depending on previous renaming). - **-v**, **--verbose** Print the name of each file before renaming it. - **-V** *method*, **--version-control=***method* Use *method* to determine backup file names. The method can also be given by the **RENAME\_VERSION\_CONTROL** (or if that's not set, the **VERSION\_CONTROL**) environment variable, which is overridden by this option. This option does not affect whether backup files are made; it affects only the name of any backup files that are made. The value of *method* is like the GNU Emacs \`version-control' variable; **rename** also recognize synonyms that are more descriptive. The valid values are (unique abbreviations are accepted): - **existing** or **nil** Make numbered backups of files that already have them, otherwise simple backups. This is the default. - **numbered** or **t** Make numbered backups. The numbered backup file name for *F* is ***F*****.~*****N*****~** where *N* is the version number. - **simple** or **never** Make simple backups. The **-B** or **--prefix**, **-Y** or **--basename-prefix**, and **-z** or **--suffix** options specify the simple backup file name. If none of these options are given, then a simple backup suffix is used, either the value of **SIMPLE\_BACKUP\_SUFFIX** environment variable if set, or **~** otherwise. - **--version** Print version information on standard output then exit successfully. - **-Y** *prefix*, **--basename-prefix=***prefix* Use the **simple** method to determine backup file names (see the **-V** *method* or **--version-control=***method* option), and prefix *prefix* to the basename of a file name when generating its backup file name. For example, with **-Y .del/** the simple backup file name for **a/b/foo** is **a/b/.del/foo**. - **-z** *suffix*, **-S** *suffix*, **--suffix=***suffix* Use the **simple** method to determine backup file names (see the **-V** *method* or **--version-control=***method* option), and append *suffix* to a file name when generating its backup file name. - **--shell-completion=***shell*, **--shellcompletion=***shell* Generate shell code for parameter completion for either **bash** or **zsh**. ## EXAMPLES To rename all files matching \*.bak to strip the extension, you might say ``` rename 's/\.bak$//' *.bak ``` To translate uppercase names to lower, you'd use ``` rename 'y/A-Z/a-z/' * ``` More examples: ``` rename 's/\.flip$/.flop/' * # rename *.flip to *.flop rename s/flip/flop/ * # rename *flip* to *flop* rename 's/^s\.(.*)/$1.X/' * # switch sccs filenames around rename 's/$/.orig/' */*.[ch] # add .orig to source files in */ rename 'y/A-Z/a-z/' * # lowercase all filenames in . rename 'y/A-Z/a-z/ if -B' * # same, but just binaries! or even rename chop *~ # restore all ~ backup files ``` Use --git when working within a GIT repo: ``` # rename _-separated filenames to camel-case, using git mv rename --git 's/([a-z]+)_/\u\L$1/g' *.c # or just renaming all the *.yml files to *.yaml rename -g 's/\.yml$/.yaml/ *.yml ``` With the --command parameter you can make rename do other interesing stuff like: ``` # make thumbnails in PNG format of all JPEG file rename 's/\.jpg/-thumb.png/' -C 'convert {} -resize 120x120 {}' *.jpg ``` ## ENVIRONMENT Two environment variables are used, **SIMPLE\_BACKUP\_SUFFIX** and **VERSION\_CONTROL**. See "OPTIONS". ## SEE ALSO [**mv**(1)](/mv/1.md) and [**perl**(1)](/perl/1.md) ## DIAGNOSTICS If you give an invalid Perl expression you'll get a syntax error. ## AUTHOR Peder Stray \, original script from Larry Wall. ## BUGS Report any issues at \.