> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Mixed
> This article teaches advanced techniques for using glob patterns in Bash to match complex filename patterns efficiently.
In this lesson, we’ll take your globbing skills to the next level by combining `?`, `*`, and escape sequences to match complex filename patterns. Glob patterns allow you to filter filenames efficiently without resorting to regular expressions.
For an in-depth reference on Bash filename expansion, see [Bash Pattern Matching](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Pattern-Matching.html).
Below is a quick summary of common glob operators:
| Wildcard | Description | Example |
| -------- | ------------------------------------ | ---------- |
| `*` | Matches zero or more characters | `*.txt` |
| `?` | Matches exactly one character | `file.?` |
| `\` | Escapes the next character literally | `file\*.*` |
## Workflow for Building Complex Globs
1. **Sample Selection**\
Collect filenames and mark matches (✅) vs. non-matches (❌). Identify **blue** segments (literal text) and **yellow** segments (wildcards).
2. **Category Order**\
Note the sequence of blue and yellow segments in the target filenames.
3. **Construct the Glob**\
Concatenate literals and wildcards in the order you determined.
***
## Example 1: Match “file.” plus at Least One Character
**Samples**
```text theme={null}
file. ❌
file.c ✅
file.conf ✅
file.txt ✅
data.sh ❌
```
1. Blue: `file.`
2. Yellow: `?` (one char) then `*` (rest)
3. Glob: `file.?*`
```bash theme={null}
$ ls file.?*
file.c file.conf file.txt
```
***
## Example 2: Match “file\_” Prefix and a Three-Character Extension
**Samples**
```text theme={null}
file_1.txt ✅
file_2.doc ✅
file_1_a.sh ❌
file_2_b.doc ✅
```
1. Blue: `file_`
2. Yellow: `*` (any chars before dot)
3. Blue: `.`
4. Yellow: `???` (exactly three)
5. Glob: `file_*.___`
```bash theme={null}
$ ls file_*.___
file_1.txt file_2.doc file_2_b.doc
```
***
## Example 3: Match Any Name with a Four-Character Extension
**Samples**
```text theme={null}
document1.txt ❌
image1.py ❌
report2.pdf ❌
memo1.docx ✅
invoice3.xlsx ✅
```
1. Yellow: `*` (any prefix)
2. Blue: `.`
3. Yellow: `????` (exactly four)
4. Glob: `*.????`
```bash theme={null}
$ ls *.????
memo1.docx invoice3.xlsx
```
***
## Example 4: Match Names Containing “1” Then One More Character, Then an Extension
**Samples**
```text theme={null}
file1.sh ❌
document1M.docx ✅
file3.txt ❌
image1T.png ✅
```
1. Yellow: `*` (any prefix)
2. Blue: `1`
3. Yellow: `?` (one char)
4. Blue: `.`
5. Yellow: `*` (any extension)
6. Glob: `*1?.*`
```bash theme={null}
$ ls *1?.*
document1M.docx image1T.png
```
***
## Example 5: Escaping a Literal “\*” in Filenames
**Samples**
```text theme={null}
R*al.py ✅
f*a*il.txt ✅
hail.doc ❌
S*ail.txt ✅
m*a?i*l.sh ✅
4ai*l.txt ❌
```
1. Yellow: `?` (any single)
2. Blue: `\*` (escaped `*`)
3. Blue: `a`
4. Yellow: `*`
5. Blue: `.`
6. Yellow: `*`
7. Glob: `?\*a*.*`
Be sure to quote or escape the pattern in your shell to prevent expansion before `ls` sees it.
```bash theme={null}
$ ls '?\*a*.*'
R*al.py f*a*il.txt S*ail.txt m*a?i*l.sh
```
***
## Example 6: Escaping a Backslash and Question Mark
**Samples**
```text theme={null}
file5\?xt ✅
file_1234567\?890?xt ✅
docA\?.docx ✅
docZ.docx ❌
rep1.txt ❌
```
1. Yellow: `*` (any prefix)
2. Blue: `\\?` (escaped `\?`)
3. Yellow: `*` (any remainder)
4. Glob: `*\\?*`
```bash theme={null}
$ ls '*\\?*'
file5\?xt file_1234567\?890?xt docA\?.docx
```
***
## Conclusion
By splitting filenames into literal (blue) and wildcard (yellow) segments, you can craft precise glob patterns for matching even the trickiest file names.
## Links and References
* [Bash Pattern Matching](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Pattern-Matching.html)
* [GNU Bash Manual](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/)