--exclude=<pattern>

Add <pattern> to a list of excluded files and directories. This option may be specified as many times as desired. For each file name considered by ctags, each pattern specified using this option will be compared against both the complete path (e.g. some/path/base.ext) and the base name (e.g. base.ext) of the file, thus allowing patterns which match a given file name irrespective of its path, or match only a specific path.

If appropriate support is available from the runtime library of your C compiler, then pattern may contain the usual shell wildcards (not regular expressions) common on Unix (be sure to quote the option parameter to protect the wildcards from being expanded by the shell before being passed to ctags; also be aware that wildcards can match the slash character, '/'). You can determine if shell wildcards are available on your platform by examining the output of the --list-features option, which will include wildcards in the compiled feature list; otherwise, pattern is matched against file names using a simple textual comparison.

If <pattern> begins with the character '@', then the rest of the string is interpreted as a file name from which to read exclusion patterns, one per line. If pattern is empty, the list of excluded patterns is cleared.

Note that at program startup, the default exclude list contains names of common hidden and system files, patterns for binary files, and directories for which it is generally not desirable to descend while processing the --recurse option. To see the list of built-in exclude patterns, use --list-excludes.

See also the description for --exclude-exception= option.

--exclude-exception=<pattern>

Add <pattern> to a list of included files and directories. The pattern affects the files and directories that are excluded by the pattern specified with --exclude= option.

For an example, you want ctags to ignore all files under foo directory except foo/main.c, use the following command line: --exclude=foo/* --exclude-exception=foo/main.c.

--filter[=(yes|no)]

Makes ctags behave as a filter, reading source file names from standard input and printing their tags to standard output on a file-by-file basis. If --sort is enabled, tags are sorted only within the source file in which they are defined. File names are read from standard input in line-oriented input mode (see note for -L option) and only after file names listed on the command line or from any file supplied using the -L option. When this option is enabled, the options -f, -o, and --totals are ignored. This option is quite esoteric and is disabled by default.

--filter-terminator=<string>

Specifies a <string> to print to standard output following the tags for each file name parsed when the --filter option is enabled. This may permit an application reading the output of ctags to determine when the output for each file is finished.

Note that if the file name read is a directory and --recurse is enabled, this string will be printed only once at the end of all tags found for by descending the directory. This string will always be separated from the last tag line for the file by its terminating newline.

This option is quite esoteric and is empty by default.

--links[=(yes|no)]

Indicates whether symbolic links (if supported) should be followed. When disabled, symbolic links are ignored. This option is on by default.

--maxdepth=<N>

Limits the depth of directory recursion enabled with the --recurse (-R) option.

--recurse[=(yes|no)]

Recurse into directories encountered in the list of supplied files.

If the list of supplied files is empty and no file list is specified with the -L option, then the current directory (i.e. '.') is assumed. Symbolic links are followed by default (See --links option). If you don't like these behaviors, either explicitly specify the files or pipe the output of find(1) into "ctags -L -" instead. See, also, the --exclude and --maxdepth to limit recursion.

Note: This option is not supported on all platforms at present. It is available if the output of the --help option includes this option.

-R

Equivalent to --recurse.

-L <file>

Read from <file> a list of file names for which tags should be generated.

If file is specified as '-', then file names are read from standard input. File names read using this option are processed following file names appearing on the command line. Options are also accepted in this input. If this option is specified more than once, only the last will apply.

Note: file is read in line-oriented mode, where a new line is the only delimiter and non-trailing white space is considered significant, in order that file names containing spaces may be supplied (however, trailing white space is stripped from lines); this can affect how options are parsed if included in the input.

--append[=(yes|no)]

Indicates whether tags generated from the specified files should be appended to those already present in the tag file or should replace them. This option is no by default.

-a

Equivalent to --append.

-f <tagfile>

Use the name specified by <tagfile> for the tag file (default is "tags", or "TAGS" when running in etags mode). If <tagfile> is specified as '-', then the tags are written to standard output instead.

ctags will stubbornly refuse to take orders if tagfile exists and its first line contains something other than a valid tags line. This will save your neck if you mistakenly type "ctags -f *.c", which would otherwise overwrite your first C file with the tags generated by the rest! It will also refuse to accept a multi-character file name which begins with a '-' (dash) character, since this most likely means that you left out the tag file name and this option tried to grab the next option as the file name. If you really want to name your output tag file -ugly, specify it as "-f ./-ugly".

This option must appear before the first file name. If this option is specified more than once, only the last will apply.

-o <tagfile>

Equivalent to "-f tagfile".

--format=(1|2)

Change the format of the output tag file. Currently the only valid values for level are 1 or 2. Level 1 specifies the original tag file format and level 2 specifies a new extended format containing extension fields (but in a manner which retains backward-compatibility with original vi(1) implementations). The default level is 2. [Ignored in etags mode]

--output-format=(u-ctags|e-ctags|etags|xref|json)

Specify the output format. The default is u-ctags. See tags(5) for u-ctags and e-ctags. See -e for etags, and -x for xref. json format is available only if the ctags executable is built with libjansson. See ctags-client-tools(7) for more about json format.

-e

Same as --output-format=etags. Enable etags mode, which will create a tag file for use with the Emacs editor. Alternatively, if ctags is invoked by a name containing the string "etags" (either by renaming, or creating a link to, the executable), etags mode will be enabled.

-x

Same as --output-format=xref. Print a tabular, human-readable cross reference (xref) file to standard output instead of generating a tag file. The information contained in the output includes: the tag name; the kind of tag; the line number, file name, and source line (with extra white space condensed) of the file which defines the tag. No tag file is written and all options affecting tag file output will be ignored.

Example applications for this feature are generating a listing of all functions located in a source file (e.g. "ctags -x --kinds-c=f file"), or generating a list of all externally visible global variables located in a source file (e.g. "ctags -x --kinds-c=v --extras=-F file").

--sort=(yes|no|foldcase)

Indicates whether the tag file should be sorted on the tag name (default is yes). Note that the original vi(1) required sorted tags. The foldcase value specifies case insensitive (or case-folded) sorting. Fast binary searches of tag files sorted with case-folding will require special support from tools using tag files, such as that found in the ctags readtags library, or Vim version 6.2 or higher (using "set ignorecase"). [Ignored in etags mode]

-u

Equivalent to --sort=no (i.e. "unsorted").

--etags-include=<file>

Include a reference to <file> in the tag file. This option may be specified as many times as desired. This supports Emacs' capability to use a tag file which includes other tag files. [Available only in etags mode]

--input-encoding=<encoding>

Specifies the <encoding> of the input files. If this option is specified, Universal Ctags converts the input from this encoding to the encoding specified by --output-encoding=encoding.

--input-encoding-<LANG>=<encoding>

Specifies a specific input <encoding> for <LANG>. It overrides the global default value given with --input-encoding.

--output-encoding=<encoding>

Specifies the <encoding> of the tags file. Universal Ctags converts the encoding of input files from the encoding specified by --input-encoding=<encoding> to this encoding.

In addition <encoding> is specified at the top the tags file as the value for the TAG_FILE_ENCODING pseudo-tag. The default value of <encoding> is UTF-8.

--language-force=(<language>|auto)

By default, ctags automatically selects the language of a source file, ignoring those files whose language cannot be determined (see "Determining file language"). This option forces the specified language (case-insensitive; either built-in or user-defined) to be used for every supplied file instead of automatically selecting the language based upon its extension.

In addition, the special value auto indicates that the language should be automatically selected (which effectively disables this option).

--languages=[+|-](<list>|all)

Specifies the languages for which tag generation is enabled, with <list> containing a comma-separated list of language names (case-insensitive; either built-in or user-defined).

If the first language of <list> is not preceded by either a '+' or '-', the current list (the current settings of enabled/disabled languages managed in ctags internally) will be cleared before adding or removing the languages in <list>. Until a '-' is encountered, each language in the <list> will be added to the current list.

As either the '+' or '-' is encountered in the <list>, the languages following it are added or removed from the current list, respectively. Thus, it becomes simple to replace the current list with a new one, or to add or remove languages from the current list.

The actual list of files for which tags will be generated depends upon the language extension mapping in effect (see the --langmap option). Note that the most of languages, including user-defined languages, are enabled unless explicitly disabled using this option. Language names included in list may be any built-in language or one previously defined with --langdef.

The default is all, which is also accepted as a valid argument. See the --list-languages option for a list of the all (built-in and user-defined) language names.

Note --languages= option works cumulative way; the option can be specified with different arguments multiple times in a command line.

--alias-<LANG>=[+|-](<pattern>|default)

Adds ('+') or removes ('-') an alias <pattern> to a language specified with <LANG>. ctags refers to the alias pattern in "Determining file language" stage.

The parameter <pattern> is not a list. Use this option multiple times in a command line to add or remove multiple alias patterns.

To restore the default language aliases, specify default.

Using all for <LANG> has meaning in following two cases:

--guess-language-eagerly

Looks into the file contents for heuristically guessing the proper language parser. See "Determining file language".

-G

Equivalent to --guess-language-eagerly.

--langmap=<map>[,<map>[...]]

Controls how file names are mapped to languages (see the --list-maps option). Each comma-separated <map> consists of the language name (either a built-in or user-defined language), a colon, and a list of file extensions and/or file name patterns. A file extension is specified by preceding the extension with a period (e.g. .c). A file name pattern is specified by enclosing the pattern in parentheses (e.g. ([Mm]akefile)).

If appropriate support is available from the runtime library of your C compiler, then the file name pattern may contain the usual shell wildcards common on Unix (be sure to quote the option parameter to protect the wildcards from being expanded by the shell before being passed to ctags). You can determine if shell wildcards are available on your platform by examining the output of the --list-features option, which will include wildcards in the compiled feature list; otherwise, the file name patterns are matched against file names using a simple textual comparison.

When mapping a file extension with --langmap option, it will first be unmapped from any other languages. (--map-<LANG> option provides more fine-grained control.)

If the first character in a <map> is a plus sign ('+'), then the extensions and file name patterns in that map will be appended to the current map for that language; otherwise, the map will replace the current map. For example, to specify that only files with extensions of .c and .x are to be treated as C language files, use --langmap=c:.c.x; to also add files with extensions of .j as Java language files, specify --langmap=c:.c.x,java:+.j. To map makefiles (e.g. files named either Makefile, makefile, or having the extension .mak) to a language called make, specify --langmap=make:([Mm]akefile).mak. To map files having no extension, specify a period not followed by a non-period character (e.g. '.', ..x, .x.).

To clear the mapping for a particular language (thus inhibiting automatic generation of tags for that language), specify an empty extension list (e.g. --langmap=fortran:). To restore the default language mappings for a particular language, supply the keyword default for the mapping. To specify restore the default language mappings for all languages, specify --langmap=default.

Note that file name patterns are tested before file extensions when inferring the language of a file. This order of Universal Ctags is different from Exuberant Ctags. See ctags-incompatibilities(7) for the background of this incompatible change.

--map-<LANG>=[+|-]<extension>|<pattern>

This option provides the way to control mapping(s) of file names to languages in a more fine-grained way than --langmap option.

In ctags, more than one language can map to a file name <pattern> or file <extension> (N:1 map). Alternatively, --langmap option handle only 1:1 map, only one language mapping to one file name <pattern> or file <extension>. A typical N:1 map is seen in C++ and ObjectiveC language; both languages have a map to .h as a file extension.

A file extension is specified by preceding the extension with a period (e.g. .c). A file name pattern is specified by enclosing the pattern in parentheses (e.g. ([Mm]akefile)). A prefixed plus ('+') sign is for adding, and minus ('-') is for removing. No prefix means replacing the map of <LANG>.

Unlike --langmap, <extension> (or <pattern>) is not a list. --map-<LANG> takes one extension (or pattern). However, the option can be specified with different arguments multiple times in a command line.

--excmd=(number|pattern|mix|combine)

Determines the type of EX command used to locate tags in the source file. [Ignored in etags mode]

The valid values for type (either the entire word or the first letter is accepted) are:

-n

Equivalent to --excmd=number.

-N

Equivalent to --excmd=pattern.

--extras=[+|-][<flags>|*]

Specifies whether to include extra tag entries for certain kinds of information. See also "Extras" subsection to know what are extras.

The parameter <flags> is a set of one-letter flags (and/or long-name flags), each representing one kind of extra tag entry to include in the tag file. If flags is preceded by either the '+' or '-' character, the effect of each flag is added to, or removed from, those currently enabled; otherwise the flags replace any current settings. All entries are included if '*' is given.

This --extras= option is for controlling extras common in all languages (or language-independent extras). Universal Ctags also supports language-specific extras. (See "Language-specific fields and extras" about the concept). Use --extras-<LANG>= option for controlling them.

--extras-(<LANG>|all)=[+|-][<flags>|*]

Specifies whether to include extra tag entries for certain kinds of information for language <LANG>. Universal Ctags introduces language-specific extras. See "Language-specific fields and extras" about the concept. This option is for controlling them.

Specifies all as <LANG> to apply the parameter <flags> to all languages; all extras are enabled with specifying '*' as the parameter flags. If specifying nothing as the parameter flags (--extras-all=), all extras are disabled. These two combinations are useful for testing.

Check the output of the --list-extras=<LANG> option for the extras of specific language <LANG>.

--fields=[+|-][<flags>|*]

Specifies which language-independent fields are to be included in the tag entries. Language-independent fields are extension fields which are common in all languages. See "TAG FILE FORMAT" section, and "Extension fields" subsection, for details of extension fields.

The parameter <flags> is a set of one-letter or long-name flags, each representing one type of extension field to include. Each flag or group of flags may be preceded by either '+' to add it to the default set, or '-' to exclude it. In the absence of any preceding '+' or '-' sign, only those fields explicitly listed in flags will be included in the output (i.e. overriding the default set). All fields are included if '*' is given.

This option is ignored if the option --format=1 (legacy tag file format) has been specified.

Use --fields-<LANG>= option for controlling language-specific fields.

--fields-(<LANG>|all)=[+|-][<flags>|*]

Specifies which language-specific fields are to be included in the tag entries. Universal Ctags supports language-specific fields. (See "Language-specific fields and extras" about the concept).

Specify all as <LANG> to apply the parameter <flags> to all languages; all fields are enabled with specifying '*' as the parameter flags. If specifying nothing as the parameter <flags> (i.e. --fields-all=), all fields are disabled. These two combinations are useful for testing.

See the description of --fields=[+|-][<flags>|*] about <flags>.

Use --fields= option for controlling language-independent fields.

--kinds-(<LANG>|all)=[+|-](<kinds>|*)

Specifies a list of language-specific <kinds> of tags (or kinds) to include in the output file for a particular language, where <LANG> is case-insensitive and is one of the built-in language names (see the --list-languages option for a complete list).

The parameter <kinds> is a group of one-letter or long-name flags designating kinds of tags (particular to the language) to either include or exclude from the output. The specific sets of flags recognized for each language, their meanings and defaults may be list using the --list-kinds-full option.

Each letter or group of letters may be preceded by either '+' to add it to, or '-' to remove it from, the default set. In the absence of any preceding '+' or '-' sign, only those kinds explicitly listed in kinds will be included in the output (i.e. overriding the default for the specified language).

Specify '*' as the parameter to include all kinds implemented in <LANG> in the output. Furthermore if all is given as <LANG>, specification of the parameter kinds affects all languages defined in ctags. Giving all makes sense only when '*' or 'F' is given as the parameter kinds.

As an example for the C language, in order to add prototypes and external variable declarations to the default set of tag kinds, but exclude macros, use --kinds-c=+px-d; to include only tags for functions, use --kinds-c=f.

Some kinds of C and C++ languages are synchronized; enabling (or disabling) a kind in one language enables the kind having the same one-letter and long-name in the other language. See also the description of MASTER column of --list-kinds-full.

--pattern-length-limit=<N>

Truncate patterns of tag entries after <N> characters. Disable by setting to 0 (default is 96).

An input source file with long lines and multiple tag matches per line can generate an excessively large tags file with an unconstrained pattern length. For example, running ctags on a minified JavaScript source file often exhibits this behavior.

The truncation avoids cutting in the middle of a UTF-8 code point spanning multiple bytes to prevent writing invalid byte sequences from valid input files. This handling allows for an extra 3 bytes above the configured limit in the worse case of a 4 byte code point starting right before the limit. Please also note that this handling is fairly naive and fast, and although it is resistant against any input, it requires a valid input to work properly; it is not guaranteed to work as the user expects when dealing with partially invalid UTF-8 input. This also partially affect non-UTF-8 input, if the byte sequence at the truncation length looks like a multibyte UTF-8 sequence. This should however be rare, and in the worse case will lead to including up to an extra 3 bytes above the limit.

--pseudo-tags=[+|-](<pseudo-tag>|*)

Enable/disable emitting pseudo-tag named <pseudo-tag>. If '*' is given, enable/disable emitting all pseudo-tags.

--put-field-prefix

Put UCTAGS as prefix for the name of fields newly introduced in Universal Ctags.

Some fields are newly introduced in Universal Ctags and more will be introduced in the future. Other tags generators may also introduce their specific fields.

In such a situation, there is a concern about conflicting field names; mixing tags files generated by multiple tags generators including Universal Ctags is difficult. This option provides a workaround for such station.

$ ctags --fields='{line}{end}' -o - hello.c
main    hello.c /^main(int argc, char **argv)$/;"       f       line:3  end:6
$ ctags --put-field-prefix --fields='{line}{end}' -o - hello.c
main    hello.c /^main(int argc, char **argv)$/;"       f       line:3  UCTAGSend:6

In the above example, the prefix is put to end field which is newly introduced in Universal Ctags.

--roles-(<LANG>|all).(<kind>|*)=[+|-][<roles>|*]

Specifies a list of kind-specific roles of tags to include in the output file for a particular language. <kind> specifies the kind where the <roles> are defined. <LANG> specifies the language where the kind is defined. Each role in <roles> must be surrounded by braces (e.g. {system} for a role named "system").

Like --kinds-<LANG> option, '+' is for adding the role to the list, and '-' is for removing from the list. '*' is for including all roles of the kind to the list. The option with no argument makes the list empty.

Both a one-letter flag or a long name flag surrounded by braces are acceptable for specifying a kind (e.g. --roles-C.h=+{system}{local} or --roles-C.{header}=+{system}{local}). '*' can be used for <KIND> only for adding/removing all roles of all kinds in a language to/from the list (e.g. --roles-C.*=* or --roles-C.*=).

all can be used for <LANG> only for adding/removing all roles of all kinds in all languages to/from the list (e.g. --roles-all.*=* or --roles-all.*=).

--tag-relative=(yes|no|always|never)

Specifies how the file paths recorded in the tag file. The default is yes when running in etags mode (see the -e option), no otherwise.

--use-slash-as-filename-separator[=(yes|no)]

Uses slash ('/') character as filename separators instead of backslash ('\') character when printing input: field. The default is yes for the default "u-ctags" output format, and no for the other formats.

This option is available on MS Windows only.

-B

Use backward searching patterns (e.g. ?pattern?). [Ignored in etags mode]

-F

Use forward searching patterns (e.g. /pattern/) (default). [Ignored in etags mode]

--options=<pathname>

Read additional options from file or directory.

ctags searches <pathname> in the optlib path list first. If ctags cannot find a file or directory in the list, ctags reads a file or directory at the specified <pathname>.

If a file is specified, it should contain one option per line. If a directory is specified, files suffixed with .ctags under it are read in alphabetical order.

As a special case, if --options=NONE is specified as the first option on the command line, preloading is disabled; the option will disable the automatic reading of any configuration options from a file (see "FILES").

--options-maybe=<pathname>

Same as --options but doesn't cause an error if file (or directory) specified with <pathname> doesn't exist.

--optlib-dir=[+]<directory>

Add an optlib <directory> to or reset the optlib path list. By default, the optlib path list is empty.

--kinddef-<LANG>=<letter>,<name>,<description>

Define a kind for <LANG>. Don't be confused this with --kinds-<LANG>.

--langdef=<name>

Defines a new user-defined language, <name>, to be parsed with regular expressions.

--mline-regex-<LANG>=/<line_pattern>/<name_pattern>/<kind-spec>/[<flags>]

Define multi-line regular expression for locating tags in specific language.

--regex-<LANG>=/<line_pattern>/<name_pattern>/<kind-spec>/[<flags>]

Define single-line regular expression for locating tags in specific language.

--if0[=(yes|no)]

Indicates a preference as to whether code within an "#if 0" branch of a preprocessor conditional should be examined for non-macro tags (macro tags are always included). Because the intent of this construct is to disable code, the default value of this option is no (disabled).

Note that this indicates a preference only and does not guarantee skipping code within an "#if 0" branch, since the fall-back algorithm used to generate tags when preprocessor conditionals are too complex follows all branches of a conditional.

--line-directives[=(yes|no)]

Specifies whether #line directives should be recognized. These are present in the output of a preprocessor and contain the line number, and possibly the file name, of the original source file(s) from which the preprocessor output file was generated. This option is off by default.

When enabled, this option will cause ctags to generate tag entries marked with the file names and line numbers of their locations original source file(s), instead of their actual locations in the preprocessor output. The actual file names placed into the tag file will have the same leading path components as the preprocessor output file, since it is assumed that the original source files are located relative to the preprocessor output file (unless, of course, the #line directive specifies an absolute path).

Note: This option is generally only useful when used together with the --excmd=number (-n) option. Also, you may have to use either the --langmap or --language-force option if the extension of the preprocessor output file is not known to ctags.

-D <macro>=<definition>

Defines a C preprocessor <macro>. This emulates the behavior of the corresponding gcc option. All types of macros are supported, including the ones with parameters and variable arguments. Stringification, token pasting and recursive macro expansion are also supported. This extends the function provided by -I option.

-h (<list>|default)

Specifies a <list> of file extensions, separated by periods, which are to be interpreted as include (or header) files. To indicate files having no extension, use a period not followed by a non-period character (e.g. '.', ..x, .x.).

This option only affects how the scoping of particular kinds of tags are interpreted (i.e. whether or not they are considered as globally visible or visible only within the file in which they are defined); it does not map the extension to any particular language. Any tag which is located in a non-include file and cannot be seen (e.g. linked to) from another file is considered to have file-limited (e.g. static) scope. No kind of tag appearing in an include file will be considered to have file-limited scope.

If the first character in the list is '+', then the extensions in the list will be appended to the current list; otherwise, the list will replace the current list. See, also, the fileScope/F flag of --extras option.

The default list is .h.H.hh.hpp.hxx.h++.inc.def. To restore the default list, specify "-h default".

Note that if an extension supplied to this option is not already mapped to a particular language (see "Determining file language", above), you will also need to use either the --map-<LANG>, --langmap or --language-force option.

-I <identifier-list>

Specifies a <identifier-list> of identifiers which are to be specially handled while parsing C and C++ source files. This option is specifically provided to handle special cases arising through the use of preprocessor macros. When the identifiers listed are simple identifiers, these identifiers will be ignored during parsing of the source files.

If an identifier is suffixed with a '+' character (i.e. "-I FOO+"), ctags will also ignore any parenthesis-enclosed argument list which may immediately follow the identifier in the source files. See the example of "-I MODULE_VERSION+" below.

If two identifiers are separated with the '=' character (i.e. -I FOO=BAR), the first identifiers is replaced by the second identifiers for parsing purposes. The list of identifiers may be supplied directly on the command line or read in from a separate file. See the example of "-I CLASS=class" below.

If the first character of <identifier-list> is '@', '.' or a pathname separator ('/' or '\'), or the first two characters specify a drive letter (e.g. C:), the parameter <identifier-list> will be interpreted as a filename from which to read a list of identifiers, one per input line.

Otherwise, <identifier-list> is a list of identifiers (or identifier pairs) to be specially handled, each delimited by either a comma or by white space (in which case the list should be quoted to keep the entire list as one command line argument).

Multiple -I options may be supplied. To clear the list of ignore identifiers, supply a single dash ('-') for <identifier-list>.

This feature is useful when preprocessor macros are used in such a way that they cause syntactic confusion due to their presence. Indeed, this is the best way of working around a number of problems caused by the presence of syntax-busting macros in source files (see "CAVEATS"). Some examples will illustrate this point.

int foo ARGDECL4(void *, ptr, long int, nbytes)

In the above example, the macro ARGDECL4 would be mistakenly interpreted to be the name of the function instead of the correct name of foo. Specifying "-I ARGDECL4" results in the correct behavior.

/* creates an RCS version string in module */
MODULE_VERSION("$Revision$")

In the above example the macro invocation looks too much like a function definition because it is not followed by a semicolon (indeed, it could even be followed by a global variable definition that would look much like a K&R style function parameter declaration). In fact, this seeming function definition could possibly even cause the rest of the file to be skipped over while trying to complete the definition. Specifying "-I MODULE_VERSION+" would avoid such a problem.

CLASS Example {
        // your content here
};

The example above uses CLASS as a preprocessor macro which expands to something different for each platform. For instance CLASS may be defined as class __declspec(dllexport) on Win32 platforms and simply class on UNIX. Normally, the absence of the C++ keyword class would cause the source file to be incorrectly parsed. Correct behavior can be restored by specifying "-I CLASS=class".

--param-<LANG>.<name>=<argument>

Set a <LANG> specific parameter, a parameter specific to the <LANG>.

Available parameters can be listed with --list-params.

--list-aliases[=(<language>|all)]

Lists the aliases for either the specified <language> or all languages, and then exits. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted. The aliases are used when heuristically testing a language parser for a source file.

--list-excludes

Lists the current exclusion patterns used to exclude files.

--list-extras[=(<language>|all)]

Lists the extras recognized for either the specified <language> or all languages. See "Extras" subsection to know what are extras. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

An extra can be enabled or disabled with --extras= for common extras in all languages, or --extras-<LANG>= for the specified language. These option takes one-letter flag or long-name flag as a parameter for specifying an extra.

The meaning of columns in output are as follows:

--list-features

Lists the compiled features.

--list-fields[=(<language>|all)]

Lists the fields recognized for either the specified <language> or all languages. See "Extension fields" subsection to know what are fields. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

The meaning of columns are as follows:

--list-kinds[=(<language>|all)]

Subset of --list-kinds-full. This option is kept for backward-compatibility with Exuberant Ctags.

This option prints only LETTER, DESCRIPTION, and ENABLED fields of --list-kinds-full output. However, the presentation of ENABLED column is different from that of --list-kinds-full option; [off] follows after description if the kind is disabled, and nothing follows if enabled. The most of all kinds are enabled by default.

The critical weakness of this option is that this option does not print the name of kind. Universal Ctags introduces --list-kinds-full because it considers that names are important.

This option does not work with --machinable nor --with-list-header.

--list-kinds-full[=(<language>|all)]

Lists the tag kinds recognized for either the specified <language> or all languages, and then exits. See "Kinds" subsection to learn what kinds are. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

Each kind of tag recorded in the tag file is represented by a one-letter flag, or a long-name flag. They are also used to filter the tags placed into the output through use of the --kinds-<LANG> option.

The meaning of columns are as follows:

$ ctags --kinds-C=+'{local}' --list-kinds-full \
  | grep -E '^(#|C\+\+ .* local)'
#LANGUAGE  LETTER NAME   ENABLED REFONLY NROLES MASTER DESCRIPTION
C++        l      local  yes     no      0      C      local variables
$ ctags --kinds-C=-'{local}' --list-kinds-full \
  | grep -E '^(#|C\+\+ .* local)'
#LANGUAGE  LETTER NAME   ENABLED REFONLY NROLES MASTER DESCRIPTION
C++        l      local  no      no      0      C      local variables

--list-languages

Lists the names of the languages understood by ctags, and then exits. These language names are case insensitive and may be used in many other options like --language-force, --languages, --kinds-<LANG>, --regex-<LANG>, and so on.

Each language listed is disabled if followed by [disabled]. To use the parser for such a language, specify the language as an argument of --languages=+ option.

--machinable and --with-list-header options are ignored if they are specified with this option.

--list-map-extensions[=(<language>|all)]

Lists the file extensions which associate a file name with a language for either the specified <language> or all languages, and then exits. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

--list-map-patterns[=(<language>|all)]

Lists the file name patterns which associate a file name with a language for either the specified <language> or all languages, and then exits. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

--list-maps[=(<language>|all)]

Lists file name patterns and the file extensions which associate a file name with a language for either the specified <language> or all languages, and then exits. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

To list the file extensions or file name patterns individually, use --list-map-extensions or --list-map-patterns option. See the --langmap option, and "Determining file language", above.

This option does not work with --machinable nor --with-list-header.

--list-mline-regex-flags

Output list of flags which can be used in a multiline regex parser definition. See ctags-optlib(7).

--list-params[=(<language>|all)]

Lists the parameters for either the specified <language> or all languages, and then exits. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

--list-pseudo-tags

Output list of pseudo-tags.

--list-regex-flags

Lists the flags that can be used in --regex-<LANG> option. See ctags-optlib(7).

--list-roles[=(<language>|all)[.(<kind-specs>|*)]]

List the roles for either the specified <language> or all languages. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

If the parameter <kindspecs> is given after the parameter <language> or all with concatenating with '.', list only roles defined in the kinds. Both one-letter flags and long name flags surrounded by braces are acceptable as the parameter <kindspecs>.

The meaning of columns are as follows:

--list-subparsers[=(<baselang>|all)]

Lists the subparsers for a base language for either the specified <baselang> or all languages, and then exits. all is used as default value if the option argument is omitted.

--machinable[=(yes|no)]

Use tab character as separators for --list- option output. It may be suitable for scripting. See "List options" for considered use cases. Disabled by default.

--with-list-header[=(yes|no)]

Print headers describing columns in --list- option output. See also "List options".

--help

Prints to standard output a detailed usage description, and then exits.

-?

Equivalent to --help.

--help-full

Prints to standard output a detailed usage description including experimental features, and then exits. Visit https://docs.ctags.io/ for information about the latest exciting experimental features.

--license

Prints a summary of the software license to standard output, and then exits.

--print-language

Just prints the language parsers for specified source files, and then exits.

--quiet[=(yes|no)]

Write fewer messages (default is no).

--totals[=(yes|no|extra)]

Prints statistics about the source files read and the tag file written during the current invocation of ctags. This option is no by default.

The extra value prints parser specific statistics for parsers gathering such information.

--verbose[=(yes|no)]

Enable verbose mode. This prints out information on option processing and a brief message describing what action is being taken for each file considered by ctags. Normally, ctags does not read command line arguments until after options are read from the configuration files (see "FILES", below). However, if this option is the first argument on the command line, it will take effect before any options are read from these sources. The default is no.

-V

Equivalent to --verbose.

--version

Prints a version identifier for ctags to standard output, and then exits. This is guaranteed to always contain the string "Universal Ctags".

-w

This option is silently ignored for backward-compatibility with the ctags of SVR4 Unix.

--file-scope[=(yes|no)]

This options is removed. Use --extras=[+|-]F or --extras=[+|-]{fileScope} instead.

--extra=[+|-][<flags>|*]

Equivalent to --extras=[+|-][<flags>|*], which was introduced to make the option naming convention align to the other options like --kinds-<LANG>= and --fields=.

--<LANG>-kinds=[+|-](<kinds>|*)

This option is obsolete. Use --kinds-<LANG>=... instead.

template file name testing

If the file name has an .in extension, ctags applies the mapping to the file name without the extension. For example, config.h is tested for a file named config.h.in.

interpreter testing

The first line of the file is checked to see if the file is a #! script for a recognized language. ctags looks for a parser having the same name.

If ctags finds no such parser, ctags looks for the name in alias lists. For example, consider if the first line is #!/bin/sh. Though ctags has a "shell" parser, it doesn't have a "sh" parser. However, sh is listed as an alias for shell, therefore ctags selects the "shell" parser for the file.

An exception is env. If env is specified (for example "#!/usr/bin/env python"), ctags reads more lines to find real interpreter specification.

To display the list of aliases, use --list-aliases option. To add an item to the list or to remove an item from the list, use the --alias-<LANG>=+<pattern> or --alias-<LANG>=-<pattern> option respectively.

zsh autoload tag testing

If the first line starts with #compdef or #autoload, ctags regards the line as "zsh".

emacs mode at the first line testing

The Emacs editor has multiple editing modes specialized for programming languages. Emacs can recognize a marker called modeline in a file and utilize the marker for the mode selection. This heuristic test does the same as what Emacs does.

ctags treats MODE as a name of interpreter and applies the same rule of "interpreter" testing if the first line has one of the following patterns:

-*- mode: MODE -*-

or

-*- MODE -*-

emacs mode at the EOF testing

Emacs editor recognizes another marker at the end of file as a mode specifier. This heuristic test does the same as what Emacs does.

ctags treats MODE as a name of an interpreter and applies the same rule of "interpreter" heuristic testing, if the lines at the tail of the file have the following pattern:

Local Variables:
...
mode: MODE
...
End:

3000 characters are sought from the end of file to find the pattern.

vim modeline testing

Like the modeline of the Emacs editor, Vim editor has the same concept. ctags treats TYPE as a name of interpreter and applies the same rule of "interpreter" heuristic testing if the last 5 lines of the file have one of the following patterns:

filetype=TYPE

or

ft=TYPE

PHP marker testing

If the first line is started with <?php, ctags regards the line as "php".

access/a

Indicates the visibility of this class member, where value is specific to the language.

end/e

Indicates the line number of the end lines of the language object.

extras/E

Extra tag type information. See "Extras" for details.

file/f

Indicates that the tag has file-limited visibility. This key has no corresponding value. Enabled by default.

implementation/m

When present, this indicates a limited implementation (abstract vs. concrete) of a routine or class, where value is specific to the language (virtual or pure virtual for C++; abstract for Java).

inherits/i

When present, value is a comma-separated list of classes from which this class is derived (i.e. inherits from).

input/F

The name of source file where name is defined or referenced.

k

Kind of tag as one-letter. Enabled by default. This field has no long-name. See also kind/z flag.

K

Kind of tag as long-name. This field has no long-name. See also kind/z flag.

kind/z

Include the kind: key in kind field. See also k and K flags.

language/l

Language of source file containing tag

line/n

The line number where name is defined or referenced in input.

name/N

The name of language objects.

nth/o

The order in the parent scope. (i.e. 4th parameter in the function).

pattern/P

Can be used to search the name in input

roles/r

Roles assigned to the tag. See "Roles" for more details.

s

Scope of tag definition. Enabled by default. This field has no long-name. See also scope/Z flag.

scope/Z

Prepend the scope: key to scope (s) field. See also s flag.

scopeKind/p

Kind of scope as long-name

signature/S

When present, value is a language-dependent representation of the signature of a routine (e.g. prototype or parameter list). A routine signature in its complete form specifies the return type of a routine and its formal argument list. This extension field is presently supported only for C-based languages and does not include the return type.

typeref/t

Type and name of a variable, typedef, or return type of callable like function as typeref: field. Enabled by default.

anonymous/none

Include an entry for the language object that has no name like lambda function. This extra has no one-letter flag and is enabled by default.

The extra tag is useful as a placeholder to fill scope fields for language objects defined in a language object with no name.

struct {
        double x, y;
} p = { .x = 0.0, .y = 0.0 };

'x' and 'y' are the members of a structure. When filling the scope fields for them, ctags has trouble because the struct where 'x' and 'y' belong to has no name. For overcoming the trouble, ctags generates an anonymous extra tag for the struct and fills the scope fields with the name of the extra tag.

$ ctags --fields=-f -uo - input.c
__anon9f26d2460108      input.c /^struct {$/;"  s
x       input.c /^      double x, y;$/;"        m       struct:__anon9f26d2460108
y       input.c /^      double x, y;$/;"        m       struct:__anon9f26d2460108
p       input.c /^} p = { .x = 0.0, .y = 0.0 };$/;"     v       typeref:struct:__anon9f26d2460108

The above tag output has __anon9f26d2460108 as an anonymous extra tag. The typeref field of 'p' also receives the benefit of it.

fileScope/F

Indicates whether tags scoped only for a single file (i.e. tags which cannot be seen outside of the file in which they are defined, such as language objects with static modifier of C language) should be included in the output. See also the -h option.

This extra tag is enabled by default. Add --extras=-F option not to output tags scoped only for a single-file. This is the replacement for --file-scope option of Exuberant Ctags.

static int f() {
        return 0;
}
int g() {
        return 0;
}

$ ctags -uo - filescope.c
f       filescope.c     /^static int f() {$/;"  f       typeref:typename:int    file:
g       filescope.c     /^int g() {$/;" f       typeref:typename:int
$ ctags --extras=-F -uo - filescope.c
g       filescope.c     /^int g() {$/;" f       typeref:typename:int

inputFile/f

Include an entry for the base file name of every source file (e.g. example.c), which addresses the first line of the file. This flag is the replacement for --file-tags hidden option of Exuberant Ctags.

If the end: field is enabled, the end line number of the file can be attached to the tag. (However, ctags omits the end: field if no newline is in the file like an empty file.)

By default, ctags doesn't create the inputFile/f extra tag for the source file when ctags doesn't find a parser for it. Enabling Unknown parser with --languages=+Unknown forces ctags to create the extra tags for any source files.

The etags mode enables the Unknown parser implicitly.

pseudo/p

Include pseudo-tags. Enabled by default unless the tag file is written to standard output. See ctags-client-tools(7) about the detail of pseudo-tags.

qualified/q

Include an extra class-qualified or namespace-qualified tag entry for each tag which is a member of a class or a namespace.

This may allow easier location of a specific tags when multiple occurrences of a tag name occur in the tag file. Note, however, that this could potentially more than double the size of the tag file.

The actual form of the qualified tag depends upon the language from which the tag was derived (using a form that is most natural for how qualified calls are specified in the language). For C++ and Perl, it is in the form class::member; for Eiffel and Java, it is in the form class.member.

Note: Using backslash characters as separators forming qualified name in PHP. However, in tags output of Universal Ctags, a backslash character in a name is escaped with a backslash character. See tags(5) about the escaping.

The following example demonstrates the qualified extra tag.

class point {
        double x;
};

For the above source file, ctags tags point and x by default. If the qualified extra is enabled from the command line (--extras=+q), then point.x is also tagged even though the string "point.x" is not in the source code.

$ ctags --fields=+K -uo - qualified.java
point   qualified.java  /^class point {$/;"     class
x       qualified.java  /^      double x;$/;"   field   class:point
$ ctags --fields=+K --extras=+q -uo - qualified.java
point   qualified.java  /^class point {$/;"     class
x       qualified.java  /^      double x;$/;"   field   class:point
point.x qualified.java  /^      double x;$/;"   field   class:point

reference/r

Include reference tags. See "TAG ENTRIES" about reference tags.

The following example demonstrates the reference extra tag.

#include <stdio.h>
#include "utils.h"
#define X
#undef X

The roles:system or roles:local fields will be added depending on whether the include file name begins with '<' or not.

"#define X" emits a definition tag. On the other hand "#undef X" emits a reference tag.

$ ctags --fields=+EKr -uo - inc.c
X       inc.c   /^#define X$/;" macro   file:   roles:def       extras:fileScope
$ ctags --fields=+EKr --extras=+r -uo - inc.c
stdio.h inc.c   /^#include <stdio.h>/;" header  roles:system    extras:reference
utils.h inc.c   /^#include "utils.h"/;" header  roles:local     extras:reference
X       inc.c   /^#define X$/;" macro   file:   roles:def       extras:fileScope
X       inc.c   /^#undef X$/;"  macro   file:   roles:undef     extras:fileScope,reference