How to find files and folders in Linux

In Linux, managing files and directories often involves locating specific items within the filesystem. With multiple directories and subdirectories, finding a file or folder can sometimes be challenging. The find and locate commands are two of the most widely used tools for this task. These commands enable users to efficiently search for files and directories based on various criteria such as name, type, size, and modification date.

The find command is powerful and flexible, allowing searches within directories and subdirectories. It supports numerous options, making it a versatile tool for searching by file name, file type, and other attributes. On the other hand, the locate command offers a faster search by querying a pre-built database of files on the system, which is updated periodically.

Both commands require careful usage, especially in larger directories. They provide different strengths: find excels in precision, while locate offers speed. Understanding when and how to use each command can help improve file management efficiency in Linux.

1. Open the terminal in your Linux system.
2. Search for a file by name using the find command.

   $ find /path/to/search -name "filename"

   This searches for the file in real-time and includes subdirectories.

3. Search for all directories using the find command.

   $ find /path/to/search -type d

   This limits the search to directories only.

4. Find files by size using the find command.

   $ find /path/to/search -size +100M

   This finds files larger than 100MB.

5. Search for files by modification time using the find command.

   $ find /path/to/search -mtime -7

   This finds files modified within the last 7 days.

6. Install locate if it’s not already installed.

   $ sudo apt install mlocate

7. Run updatedb to ensure the database is up-to-date.

   $ sudo updatedb

8. Search for a file by name using the locate command.

   $ locate filename

   locate is case-sensitive; use the -i option to ignore case.

9. Confirm the presence of recently added files by running locate after updating the database.

   If the file isn’t found, manually run updatedb or use find for real-time searches.