groups Linux command

The Linux groups command allows users to manage group information on a system. It displays the groups a user belongs to, including primary and supplementary groups. By simply typing ‘groups’ followed by a username, you can easily view all the groups associated with that specific user. Additionally, administrators can add or remove users from groups using this command, enabling efficient management of user permissions and access rights.

groups Syntax:

groups [options] [username]

Options:

Option	Description
-h, —help	Display help information
-v, —version	Display version information

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
username	The username to display groups for

Caution

Exercise caution when using the groups command, especially when specifying a username. Incorrect usage can potentially lead to unintended results.

groups bash Examples:

Display the groups a user belongs to

groups username

This command will show the groups that the specified user “username” is a member of.

Display all groups on the system

groups

Running this command without any arguments will display all the groups that the current user is a member of.

Create a new group

sudo groupadd newgroup

It creates a new group called “newgroup” on the system.

Add a user to a group

sudo usermod -aG groupname username

This adds the user “username” to the group “groupname” without removing the user from their existing groups.

Remove a user from a group

sudo deluser username groupname

This removes the user “username” from the group “groupname”.

Check members of a particular group

getent group groupname

This command shows the list of users who are members of the group “groupname”.

Tip

When using the groups command in Linux, make sure to include the appropriate options and arguments to get the desired output. Refer to the command’s man page (man groups) for more detailed information on its usage and available options.

How do I use groups in Linux?

To use the groups command in Linux, execute the following command:

groups

How can I display all groups a user belongs to in Linux?

To display all groups a user belongs to in Linux using the groups command, use the following syntax:

groups username

How do I show the group ID instead of the group name with the groups command?

To display the group ID instead of the group name when using the groups command in Linux, use the -g option like this:

groups -g

How can I display groups in a comma-separated list with the groups command?

To display groups in a comma-separated list using the groups command in Linux, include the -c option in your command:

groups -c

How do I display the effective group ID of the current user with groups command?

To display the effective group ID of the current user using the groups command in Linux, use the -e option like this:

groups -e

How can I see additional information about the groups command in Linux?

To see additional information about the groups command in Linux, refer to its man page by executing the following command:

man groups

How do I display the version information for the groups command?

To display the version information for the groups command in Linux, you can use the --version option like this:

groups --version

Applications of the groups command

• Display the groups to which a user belongs.