What does the command grep do?

The command grep is a powerful and widely used utility in Unix and Linux systems specifically designed for searching text. It allows users to look for specific patterns or strings of text within files and outputs the lines that contain the matched text. This functionality is particularly useful for analyzing large text files, log files, or searching through code repositories, making it an essential tool for system administrators, developers, and anyone who works with text data.

The versatility of grep extends through its use of regular expressions, enabling it to perform complex pattern matching. Users can specify exact strings, use wildcards, or define intricate search criteria, making grep an invaluable tool for filtering through text data efficiently. This capability distinguishes it from other commands, which serve different purposes, such as formatting text or compiling programs.