How to replace a string in multiple files in linux command line

🔧 How to Replace a String in Multiple Files in Linux Command Line 🔧

So, you find yourself in a situation where you need to replace a particular string in a bunch of files on your Linux server. Don't worry, I got your back! In this guide, I'll walk you through an easy solution that works even if you only have SSH access to the server. Let's dive right in! 💻

The Challenge 💪

The initial question asked how to replace a string in multiple files in a folder using only SSH access. This means we can't rely on fancy graphical tools or editors but have to get down and dirty with the command line. But fear not, the command line can be a powerful ally once you know how to wield it!

The Solution 💡

To achieve our goal, we'll take advantage of the sed command, which is a stream editor used for modifying files. Here's the syntax to replace a string in multiple files using sed:

find /path/to/directory -type f -exec sed -i 's/old-string/new-string/g' {} +

Let me break it down for you:

• find: This command helps us locate all the files we want to modify. You need to provide the path to the directory where your files are located.

• /path/to/directory: Replace this with the actual path to your folder.

• -type f: This parameter tells find to search only for files (not directories).

• -exec: This option allows us to execute a command on each file found.

• sed: The sed command is used to do the actual string replacement.

• -i: This option tells sed to modify the files in-place.

• 's/old-string/new-string/g': This is the sed expression that specifies the old string to be replaced and its corresponding new string. Make sure to enclose it in single quotes.

• {}: This placeholder represents the file name that find passes to sed.

• +: This indicates the end of the -exec command.

Example 🌟

Let's say you want to replace the word "foo" with "bar" in all the files within the /var/www directory. Here's how you can do it:

find /var/www -type f -exec sed -i 's/foo/bar/g' {} +

This command will search for all files within /var/www, replace every occurrence of "foo" with "bar", and save the changes in-place.

Wrapping Up 🎉

Now that you know how to replace a string in multiple files using the Linux command line, the possibilities are endless! From small modifications to large-scale updates, you can harness the power of the command line to streamline your operations.

So go ahead, try it out, and let me know if you have any questions or other technical topics you'd like me to cover! 💬

Keep hacking and stay curious! ✨