What is the function of 'grep' in a command pipeline?

The function of 'grep' in a command pipeline is to filter text using patterns. When used in a pipeline, 'grep' processes the output of the previous command and searches through it for lines that match a specified pattern. It allows users to search for specific strings or regular expressions within text data, effectively narrowing down the output to just those lines that are of interest.

This capability makes 'grep' an essential tool in Unix-like systems for handling and processing text. For example, if you have a command that produces a large amount of text output, piping it into 'grep' can help you find only those lines that contain a particular keyword, making it easier to read and analyze the results. By focusing on pattern-matching, 'grep' facilitates more efficient data handling in scripts and command-line operations.