---
name: "zstdgrep"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "zstd"
version: "1.5.7-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/zstdgrep"
---

# zstdgrep(1)

print lines matching a pattern in zstandard-compressed files

## NAME

**zstdgrep** - print lines matching a pattern in zstandard-compressed files

## SYNOPSIS

**zstdgrep** \[*grep-flags*\] \[--\] *pattern* \[*files* ...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**zstdgrep** runs [**grep**(1)](/grep/1.md) on files, or **stdin** if no files argument is given, after decompressing them with [**zstdcat**(1)](/zstdcat/1.md).

The *grep-flags* and *pattern* arguments are passed on to [**grep**(1)](/grep/1.md). If an **-e** flag is found in the *grep-flags*, **zstdgrep** will not look for a *pattern* argument.

Note that modern **grep** alternatives such as **ripgrep** ([**rg**(1)](/rg/1.md)) support **zstd**-compressed files out of the box, and can prove better alternatives than **zstdgrep** notably for unsupported complex pattern searches. Note though that such alternatives may also feature some minor command line differences.

## EXIT STATUS

In case of missing arguments or missing pattern, 1 will be returned, otherwise 0.

## SEE ALSO

[**zstd**(1)](/zstd/1.md)

## AUTHORS

Thomas Klausner *wiz@NetBSD.org*