dircolors

Output commands to set $LS_COLOR using default colors

$ dircolors

$ dircolors --print-ls-colors

$ dircolors [path/to/file]

$ dircolors [[-b|--bourne-shell]]

$ dircolors [[-c|--c-shell]]

$ dircolors [[-p|--print-database]]

dircolors [OPTION]... [FILE]

-b, --bourne-shell
    output Bourne/POSIX shell code (sh/bash)

-c, --csh
    output C shell code (csh/tcsh)

-p, --print-database
    print default color database to stdout

-h, --help
    display this help and exit

-V, --version
    output version information and exit

dircolors generates shell commands to set the LS_COLORS environment variable, enabling colorized output in ls and compatible tools like grep --color. Colors differentiate file types: directories (blue), executables (green), symlinks (cyan), archives (red), and extensions (e.g., .pdf=magenta).

Without a custom file, it uses a built-in database. Create ~/.dircolors for personalization using ANSI escape codes (e.g., 01;34 for bold blue). Format includes TERM for terminal types, file slots (DIR, FIFO), wildcards (*.tar=01;31), and options (OPTIONS=rb for read-only bold).

Invoke with shell-specific output: -b for bash/sh, -c for csh/tcsh. Source via eval "$(dircolors)" or add to ~/.bashrc. Supports 8/16/256-color terminals; ineffective without color-aware apps or --color=auto in ls.

Enhances CLI usability, reduces misreads in cluttered dirs. Print defaults with -p to bootstrap custom files.

Output must be eval'd or sourced to set LS_COLORS.
Requires color-supporting terminal and ls --color.
No FILE uses built-in defaults; malformed FILE ignored.

eval "$(dircolors -b)"
Or eval "$(dircolors -b ~/.dircolors)" in ~/.bashrc.

TERM linux
DIR 01;34
EXEC 01;32
*.gz=01;31
Use dircolors -p > ~/.dircolors to start.

Introduced in GNU fileutils 3.12 (1994); merged into coreutils 4.5 (1998). Evolved with 256-color support in coreutils 6.11 (2008).

ls(1), grep(1)