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

> Display lines beginning with a prefix in a sorted file.
> Note: The lines in the file must be sorted.
> See also: `grep`, `sort`.
> More information: <https://man.openbsd.org/look>.

- Search for lines beginning with a specific prefix in a specific file:

`look {{prefix}} {{path/to/file}}`

- Case-insensitively search only on alphanumeric characters:

`look {{[-f|--ignore-case]}} {{[-d|--alphanum]}} {{prefix}} {{path/to/file}}`

- Specify a string termination character (space by default):

`look {{[-t|--terminate]}} {{,}}`

- Search in `/usr/share/dict/words` (`--alphanum` and `--ignore-case` are assumed):

`look {{prefix}}`
