bash-hackers-wiki/docs/dict/globbing.md

Globbing

Globbing is the procedure of

• matching all filenames against a given pattern
• expanding to all matching filenames

Unlike MSDOS, where the called program had to interpret the patterns, the globbing on UNIX(r) is done by the shell, the matched filenames are given as parameters to a called command:

$ cat *.txt

really executes

$ cat 1.txt 3.txt foobar.txt XXX.txt

The term "glob" originates back in the UNIX(r) days where an executable glob (from "global") existed which was used to expand pattern-matching characters. Later, this functionality was built into the shell. There's still a library function called glob() (POSIX(r)), which serves the same purpose.

See also

• shell
• hardlink

See also (article)

• pathname expansion