ctags

Generate tags files (POSIX)

Syntax:

ctags files...

Options:

files

The pathnames of the files that are to be scanned for tags.

Description:

The ctags utility generates a file called tags from a group of C source files.

Each C source file is scanned for #define statements and function definitions. The name of the macro or function becomes the name of a tag. For each tag, a line is added to the tags file, which contains:

• the name of the tag
• a tab character
• the name of the file containing the tag
• a tab character
• a way to find the particular line within the file

The less, more, vi, and vedit utilities can use entries in the tags file to locate and display a definition.

Examples:

Generate tags for all the C source and header files in the current directory:

    ctags *.[ch]

Contributing author:

Steve Kirkendall; ctags is part of the elvis suite.

See also:

less, more, vedit, vi