---
name: "zgrep"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gzip"
version: "1.15-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/zgrep"
---

# zgrep(1)

search possibly compressed files for a regular expression

## NAME

zgrep - search possibly compressed files for a regular expression

## SYNOPSIS

**zgrep** \[ grep\_options \] **\[ -e \]** *pattern* *filename*...

## DESCRIPTION

The **zgrep** command invokes **grep** on compressed or gzipped files. All options specified are passed directly to **grep**. If no file is specified, then the standard input is decompressed if necessary and fed to grep. Otherwise the given files are uncompressed if necessary and fed to **grep**.

If the GREP environment variable is set, **zgrep** uses it as the **grep** program to be invoked.

## EXIT STATUS

Exit status is 0 for a match, 1 for no matches, and 2 if trouble.

## BUGS

The following **grep** options are not supported: **--dereference-recursive** (**-R**), **--directories** (**-d**), **--exclude**, **--exclude-from**, **--exclude-dir**, **--include**, **--null** (**-Z**), **--null-data** (**-z**), and **--recursive** (**-r**).

## AUTHOR

Charles Levert (charles@comm.polymtl.ca)

## SEE ALSO

[**grep**(1)](/grep/1.md), [**gzexe**(1)](/gzexe/1.md), [**gzip**(1)](/gzip/1.md), [**zdiff**(1)](/zdiff/1.md), [**zforce**(1)](/zforce/1.md), [**zmore**(1)](/zmore/1.md), [**znew**(1)](/znew/1.md)