How to Use whereis Command in Linux: Syntax and Examples

Use the whereis command in Linux to find the location of a program's binary, source, and manual files. The basic syntax is whereis [options] program_name, which helps you quickly locate files related to a command.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the whereis command is:

• whereis [options] program_name

Here:

• program_name is the name of the command or program you want to locate.
• options modify the search behavior, like limiting to binaries, sources, or manuals.

bash

whereis [options] program_name

Example

This example shows how to find the locations of the ls command's binary, source, and manual files using whereis.

bash

whereis ls

Output

ls: /bin/ls /usr/share/man/man1/ls.1.gz

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when using whereis include:

• Typing the program name incorrectly, which returns no results.
• Expecting whereis to search all directories; it only searches standard system paths.
• Confusing whereis with which, which only shows the binary path.

bash

whereis notaprogram
# No output or just the program name

whereis ls
# Correct usage shows locations

Output

notaprogram:
ls: /bin/ls /usr/share/man/man1/ls.1.gz

Quick Reference

Here is a quick reference for common whereis options:

Option	Description
-b	Search only for binaries
-m	Search only for manual files
-s	Search only for source files
-u	Search for unusual entries (files not in standard locations)
-B	Specify directories to search for binaries
-M	Specify directories to search for manuals
-S	Specify directories to search for sources

Key Takeaways

Use whereis program_name to find binary, source, and manual file locations.

The command searches standard system directories, not the entire filesystem.

Use options like -b, -m, and -s to narrow the search.

Check spelling of the program name to avoid empty results.

Remember whereis differs from which, which only shows the binary path.