inotifywait

Additional Notes

inotifywait is a file command used to wait for filesystem events. It blocks until a specified event (such as file creation, modification, or deletion) occurs on a watched path.

inotifywait is part of the inotify-tools package and uses the Linux inotify subsystem. The number of watchable directories is limited by fs.inotify.max_user_watches.

Syntax

inotifywait [options] [arguments]

Parameters

• options: Flags that change how inotifywait behaves.
• path: File or directory path to inspect or change.
• arguments: Names, patterns, or values used by the command.

Common Options

• --help: Show command help when supported.
• --version: Show version information when supported.

Examples

inotifywait --help
man inotifywait

Practical Notes

Options can vary by distribution and package version. Use man inotifywait, inotifywait --help, or the package documentation for exact syntax.