What does the grep command do?Group of answer choicesEdits text in a fileLists directory contentsChanges file permissionsSearches for patterns within files

Explanation of the Grep Command

The grep command is a powerful text search tool used in Unix/Linux environments. Its primary function is to search for specified patterns within files. It scans files line by line and returns lines that match the given pattern, whether it's a specific string, regular expression, or other specified criteria.

Breakdown of Answer Choices

1. Edits text in a file: This is incorrect. The grep command does not modify any text; it only searches for and displays matching lines.
2. Lists directory contents: This is incorrect. The command used for listing directory contents is ls, not grep.
3. Changes file permissions: This is incorrect. File permissions can be changed using the chmod command, not grep.
4. Searches for patterns within files: This is correct. The primary purpose of grep is to search for specific text patterns in files.

Final Answer

The correct answer is “Searches for patterns within files.”