FILE(1) BSD FILE(1)
NAME
file - determine file type
SYNOPSIS
file [ -c ] [ -L ] [ -f ffile ] [ -m mfile ] arg ...
DESCRIPTION
The file command performs a series of tests on each argument in an
attempt to classify it. If an argument appears to be ASCII, file
examines the first 512 bytes and tries to guess its language. If an
argument is an executable a.out, file prints the version stamp, if it is
greater than zero.
The file command uses the file /etc/magic to identify files that have
some sort of "magic number", that is, any file containing a numeric or
string constant that indicates its type. Commentary at the beginning of
/etc/magic explains its format.
OPTIONS
-c Check the magic file for format errors. This validation is not
normally carried out, for efficiency reasons. No file typing
is done under -c.
-L If the argument is a soft or symbolic link, test the file or
directory the link references instead of the link itself.
-f ffile Take the next argument to be a file containing the names of the
files to be examined.
-m mfile Use an alternate magic file, mfile.
FILES
/etc/magic