How can I grep recursively, but only in files with certain extensions?

Question

I'm working on a script to grep certain directories:

{ grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path1/; grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path2/; grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path3/; grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path4/; grep -r -i CP_Image ~/path5/; } | mailx -s GREP [email protected] 

How can I limit results only to extensions .h and .cpp?

Answer 1

Just use the --include parameter, like this:

grep -inr --include \*.h --include \*.cpp CP_Image ~/path[12345] | mailx -s GREP [email protected] 

That should do what you want.

To take the explanation from HoldOffHunger's answer below:

• grep: command

• -r: recursively

• -i: ignore-case

• -n: each output line is preceded by its relative line number in the file

• --include \*.cpp: all *.cpp: C++ files (escape with \ just in case you have a directory with asterisks in the filenames)

• ./: Start at current directory.