updatedb

Build filename database for locate searches

TLDR

Refresh database

$ sudo updatedb

Verbose mode

$ sudo updatedb -v

updatedb creates or updates the database used by the locate command. It scans the filesystem and builds an index of all filenames for fast searching.The command is usually run daily by cron to keep the database current. Manual execution is needed to index newly created files before the next scheduled update.

PARAMETERS

-v, --verbose

Display filenames as they are found

--prunepaths PATHS

Exclude specified paths from database

--prunefs TYPES

Exclude specified filesystem types

-o, --output FILE

Write to specified database file

-U, --database-root PATH

Store only results from the subtree rooted at PATH

-e, --add-prunepaths PATHS

Add entries to PRUNEPATHS

-n, --add-prunenames NAMES

Add entries to PRUNENAMES

-l, --require-visibility FLAG

Control visibility checking (0 or 1)

--prune-bind-mounts FLAG

Override bind mount pruning (yes or no)

CONFIGURATION

/etc/updatedb.conf

Controls which paths, filesystem types, and file patterns are included or excluded from the database.

INSTALL

sudo apk add findutils-locate

CAVEATS

Requires root privileges for full filesystem access. Initial scan can take several minutes on large filesystems. Network filesystems are typically excluded by default.