glob
/glob/, ▫not▫ /glohb/ To expand {wild card} characters in a
{path name}.
In {Unix} the {file name} wild cards are:
▫ ◦ zero or more characters (E.g. {UN▫X})
? ◦ any single character
[] any of the enclosed characters
{} indicate alternation of comma-separated alternatives, thus
foo{baz,qux} would expand to "foobaz" or "fooqux". This
syntax generates a list of all possible expansions, rather
than matching one.
These have become sufficiently pervasive that hackers use them
in written English, especially in {electronic mail} or
{Usenet} news on technical topics. E.g. "He said his name was
[KC]arl" (expresses ambiguity). "I don't read
talk.politics.▫" (any of the talk.politics subgroups on
{Usenet}). Other examples are given under the entry for {X}.
Note that glob patterns are similar, but not identical, to
those used in {regexps}.
"glob" was a subprogram that expanded wild cards in archaic
pre-{Bourne} versions of the {Unix} {shell}.
(1997-07-16)