---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, common]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# bzgrep

> Find patterns in `bzip2` compressed files using `grep`.
> More information: <https://manned.org/bzgrep>.

- Search for a pattern within a compressed file:

`bzgrep "{{search_pattern}}" {{path/to/file}}`

- Recursively search files in a bzip2 compressed `.tar` archive for a pattern:

`bzgrep {{[-r|--recursive]}} "{{search_pattern}}" {{path/to/tar_file}}`

- Print 3 lines of [C]ontext around, [B]efore, or [A]fter each match:

`bzgrep {{--context|--before-context|--after-context}} 3 "{{search_pattern}}" {{path/to/file}}`

- Print file name and line number for each match:

`bzgrep {{[-H|--with-filename]}} {{[-n|--line-number]}} "{{search_pattern}}" {{path/to/file}}`

- Search for lines matching a pattern, printing only the matched text:

`bzgrep {{[-o|--only-matching]}} "{{search_pattern}}" {{path/to/file}}`

- Search `stdin` for lines that do not match a pattern:

`cat {{path/to/bz_compressed_file}} | bzgrep {{[-v|--invert-match]}} "{{search_pattern}}"`

- Use extended `regex` (supports `?`, `+`, `{}`, `()`, and `|`), in case-insensitive mode:

`bzgrep {{[-E|--extended-regexp]}} {{[-i|--ignore-case]}} "{{search_pattern}}" {{path/to/file}}`
