What does the command 'grep' do?

The command 'grep' is a powerful utility in Linux and Unix-like operating systems that performs pattern searching in text files. When you use 'grep', you can specify a pattern or regular expression, and 'grep' will scan through the contents of files to find lines that match that specified pattern. This makes it an invaluable tool for searching through logs, configuration files, and other text data to extract relevant information quickly.

The functionality of 'grep' goes beyond simple searching; it can also highlight the matched patterns, count occurrences, and display context lines around the matches, which enhances its usability for users who need to sift through large amounts of text efficiently. Its use is widespread among system administrators, developers, and anyone who works with textual data in a Linux environment.