zmv

Move files using a regular expression-like pattern

$ zmv '[(*).log]' '[$1.txt]'

$ zmv -n '[(*).log]' '[$1.txt]'

$ zmv -i '[(*).log]' '[$1.txt]'

$ zmv -v '[(*).log]' '[$1.txt]'

zmv [options]

-n
    Dry-run mode. Prints the renames that would be performed but does not actually execute them.

-v
    Verbose mode. Prints each rename as it is performed.

-w
    Overwrite existing files. Without this flag, zmv will refuse to overwrite existing files.

-f
    Force overwrite. Implies -w and disables safety checks regarding existing files.


    A shell pattern specifying the files to be renamed. Capturing groups can be defined within the pattern to be used in the replacement.


    A Perl expression that transforms the matched filename into the new filename. Uses $1, $2, etc. to refer to capturing groups defined in the pattern.

zmv provides a powerful way to rename multiple files on a Unix-like system using shell patterns and Perl expressions. It allows you to specify a pattern that matches the files you want to rename, and then a Perl expression that transforms the matched filenames into the new names.
zmv offers several features to ensure safety, including dry-run mode, which previews the renames without actually performing them. It's especially useful when renaming large numbers of files, or when complex renaming logic is needed. The command is a zsh built-in, requiring no external dependencies beyond the shell itself. Zmv's flexible syntax and dry-run capabilities make it a go-to tool for advanced file management tasks.

Care must be taken when constructing the Perl replacement expression to avoid errors. Always use the '-n' option for a dry run before performing the actual rename to ensure the command behaves as expected.

Rename all *.txt files to *.text: zmv '*.txt' '$f:s/.txt/.text/'
Rename files by adding prefix: zmv '(*)' 'new_$1'

zmv is a built-in command within the Zsh shell. It was developed to address the limitations of simpler renaming tools by providing a more flexible and powerful way to batch rename files using regular expressions. Its integration directly into the shell improves performance and simplifies usage.

rename(1), mv(1), find(1)