Understanding Wildcards in Fish

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 129 views

Introduction

Fish is a popular command-line shell that offers a unique set of features and functionality. One of the key aspects of Fish is its support for wildcards, which allow users to match files and folders using patterns. However, when it comes to matching only files or only folders, Fish's wildcard syntax can be a bit tricky to navigate. In this article, we'll explore the possibilities of matching only files or only folders in Fish and provide you with the necessary tools to achieve your goals.

Understanding Wildcards in Fish

Before we dive into the specifics of matching files and folders, it's essential to understand how wildcards work in Fish. Wildcards are used to match patterns in file names and paths. The most common wildcard characters in Fish are:

*: Matches any character (including none)
?: Matches a single character
[abc]: Matches any character within the brackets
{a,b,c}: Matches any of the characters within the brackets
^: Matches the start of a string
$: Matches the end of a string

Matching Files and Folders in Fish

In Fish, you can match files and folders using the * wildcard. However, to match only files or only folders, you need to use a combination of wildcards and the ^ character. Here are the basic patterns you can use:

*: Matches any file or folder
*^/: Matches any file (excluding folders)
*/: Matches any folder (excluding files)

Using the `^` Character

The ^ character is used to match the start of a string. When used with the * wildcard, it can be used to exclude folders or files. For example:

*^/: Matches any file (excluding folders)
*/: Matches any folder (excluding files)

Using the `D` Character

In Fish, the D character is used to match directories. When used with the * wildcard, it can be used to match only folders. For example:

*(/D): Matches any folder (excluding files)
*(^/D): Matches any file (excluding folders)

Example Use Cases

Here are some example use cases for matching files and folders in Fish:

Matching all files in a directory: ls *
Matching all folders in a directory: ls */
Matching all files (excluding folders): ls *^/
Matching all folders (excluding files): ls *(/D)

Conclusion

Matching files and folders in Fish can be a bit tricky, but with the right combination of wildcards and characters, you can achieve your goals. In this article, we've explored the possibilities of matching only files or only folders in Fish and provided you with the necessary tools to achieve your goals. Whether you're a seasoned Fish user or just starting out, we hope this article has been helpful in your journey to mastering Fish's wildcard syntax.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks for working with wildcards in Fish:

Use the glob command: The glob command can be used to expand wildcards into a list of files and folders. For example: glob *
Use the find command: The find command can be used to search for files and folders based on various criteria. For example: find . -type f
Use the ls command with the -d option: The -d option can be used to list only directories. For example: ls -d */

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the possibilities of matching only files or only folders in Fish. However, we know that sometimes the best way to learn is through questions and answers. In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about matching files and folders in Fish.

Q: How do I match all files in a directory?

A: To match all files in a directory, you can use the * wildcard. For example: ls *

Q: How do I match all folders in a directory?

A: To match all folders in a directory, you can use the */ wildcard. For example: ls */

Q: How do I match all files (excluding folders)?

A: To match all files (excluding folders), you can use the *^/ wildcard. For example: ls *^/

Q: How do I match all folders (excluding files)?

A: To match all folders (excluding files), you can use the *(/D) wildcard. For example: ls *(/D)

**Q: What is the difference between `` and `^/`?**

A: The * wildcard matches any file or folder, while the *^/ wildcard matches any file (excluding folders). The ^ character is used to match the start of a string, so *^/ matches any file that does not start with a /.

**Q: What is the difference between `/` and `(/D)`?**

A: The */ wildcard matches any folder, while the *(/D) wildcard matches any folder (excluding files). The D character is used to match directories, so *(/D) matches any folder that is a directory.

Q: Can I use wildcards with other commands?

A: Yes, you can use wildcards with other commands in Fish. For example, you can use the glob command to expand wildcards into a list of files and folders. For example: glob *

Q: Can I use wildcards with the `find` command?

A: Yes, you can use wildcards with the find command in Fish. For example: find . -type f -name '*.*'

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using wildcards?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using wildcards include:

Using the * wildcard without the ^ character to match files (excluding folders)
Using the */ wildcard without the D character to match folders (excluding files)
Using the ^ character without the * wildcard to match the start of a string
Using the D character without the * wildcard to match directories

Conclusion

In conclusion, matching files and folders in Fish can be a bit tricky, but with the right combination of wildcards and characters, you can achieve your goals. We hope this Q&A article has been helpful in answering some of the most frequently asked questions about matching files and folders in Fish. Whether you're a seasoned Fish user or just starting out, we encourage you to experiment with different wildcards and characters to find the solutions that work best for you.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks for working with wildcards in Fish:

Use the glob command: The glob command can be used to expand wildcards into a list of files and folders. For example: glob *
Use the find command: The find command can be used to search for files and folders based on various criteria. For example: find . -type f
Use the ls command with the -d option: The -d option can be used to list only directories. For example: ls -d */