Apr 25, 2025

How to Master the Rename Command in Linux

Mastering the Rename Command in Linux

The rename command is a powerful tool included in the util-linux package, designed to rename multiple files quickly and efficiently. This command is particularly useful for batch file operations, allowing users to apply simple substitutions or complex renaming patterns across many files at once.

Warning: Use with Caution

Before diving into the usage of rename, it’s essential to understand its potential risks. The command does not provide safeguards against overwriting existing files, so it’s advisable to double-check your commands before execution.

Basic Syntax

Here’s the basic syntax for the rename command:

rename [options] 's/old_pattern/new_pattern/' files

Common Use Cases

1. Simple File Renaming

To rename files using simple substitutions, you can replace occurrences of ‘foo’ with ‘bar’ in the current directory:

rename foo bar *

This command will go through all files and replace ‘foo’ in their names with ‘bar’.

2. Dry Run

To see which renames would occur without actually executing them, use the dry-run option:

rename [-vn|--verbose --no-act] foo bar *

This feature is particularly useful for verifying your command before making any irreversible changes.

3. Avoiding Overwrites

If you want to ensure that existing files are not overwritten during the renaming process, you can use:

rename [-o|--no-overwrite] foo bar *

This helps to prevent unintended file loss.

4. Changing File Extensions

You can easily change file extensions using:

rename .ext .bak *.ext

This command renames all files with the .ext extension to have a .bak extension.

5. Prepending Text to Filenames

To prepend “foo” to all filenames in the current directory, you can run:

rename '' 'foo' *

This adds ‘foo’ at the beginning of each file name.

6. Zero-Padding Numbered Files

If you need to rename a group of files with increasing numbers and want to maintain consistent formatting, you can zero-pad the numbers up to three digits. For example:

rename foo foo00 foo? && rename foo foo0 foo??

This method ensures that numbered files are sorted correctly.

Conclusion

The rename command is a versatile tool that can save you considerable time when managing file names in Linux. However, always remember to use caution and perform dry runs to avoid accidental overwrites. For more detailed information, you can refer to the manual here.

Happy renaming!