The file command in Linux is used to determine the true type of a file by inspecting its contents, not just its name or extension.
Unlike many operating systems that rely on file extensions (like .jpg, .txt, or .mp3), Linux doesn’t depend on naming alone.
The file command reads the internal binary signatures of the file to classify it. For example, when you run file /etc/passwd, the command returns something like ASCII text, confirming the actual format of the file.
Even if you rename a file—for example, change photo.jpg to photo.txt—file will still report the original type based on what’s inside, not what the name suggests.
This makes the command extremely useful for security checks, debugging, and forensic analysis. It’s also handy in shell scripts that need to behave differently based on file type. For Linux+ certification, knowing how file works emphasizes Linux’s design philosophy: trust the system, not just file labels.
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