# man > zgrep(1)

> **TLDR:** Grep text patterns from files within compressed files.
>
- Grep a pattern in a compressed file (case-sensitive):
  `zgrep {{pattern}} {{path/to/compressed_file}}`
- Print 3 lines of [C]ontext around, [B]efore, or [A]fter each match:
  `zgrep {{-context|--before-context|--after-context}} 3 {{pattern}} {{path/to/compressed_file}}`
- Grep a pattern in a compressed file (case-insensitive):
  `zgrep {{-i|--ignore-case}} {{pattern}} {{path/to/compressed_file}}`
- Output count of lines containing matched pattern in a compressed file:
  `zgrep {{-c|--count}} {{pattern}} {{path/to/compressed_file}}`
- Display the lines which don't have the pattern present (Invert the search function):
  `zgrep {{-v|--invert-match}} {{pattern}} {{path/to/compressed_file}}`
- Grep a compressed file for multiple patterns:
  `zgrep {{-e|--regexp}} "{{pattern_1}}" {{-e|--regexp}} "{{pattern_2}}" {{path/to/compressed_file}}`
- Use extended `regex` (supports `?`, `+`, `{}`, `()`, and `|`):
  `zgrep {{-E|--extended-regexp}} {{regex}} {{path/to/file}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

---

[_ZGREP_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ZGREP/1/markdown)                               General Commands Manual                              [_ZGREP_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ZGREP/1/markdown)

## 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)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/grep/1/markdown), [**gzexe**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/gzexe/1/markdown), [**gzip**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/gzip/1/markdown), [**zdiff**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/zdiff/1/markdown), [**zforce**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/zforce/1/markdown), [**zmore**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/zmore/1/markdown), [**znew**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/znew/1/markdown)

                                                                                            [_ZGREP_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ZGREP/1/markdown)