Comparing Timestamps - Finding Files

2.3.2 Comparing Timestamps

As an alternative to comparing timestamps to the current time, you can compare them to another file's timestamp. That file's timestamp could be updated by another program when some event occurs. Or you could set it to a particular fixed date using the touch command. For example, to list files in /usr modified after February 1 of the current year:

     touch -t 02010000 /tmp/stamp$$
     find /usr -newer /tmp/stamp$$
     rm -f /tmp/stamp$$

— Test: -anewer file
— Test: -cnewer file
— Test: -newer file

True if the file was last accessed (or its status changed, or it was modified) more recently than file was modified. These tests are affected by -follow only if -follow comes before them on the command line. See Symbolic Links, for more information on -follow. As an example, to list any files modified since /bin/sh was last modified:
          find . -newer /bin/sh
     

— Test: -used n

True if the file was last accessed n days after its status was last changed. Useful for finding files that are not being used, and could perhaps be archived or removed to save disk space.