replace-in-files-cli

Replace matching strings and regexes in files

Install

npm install --global replace-in-files-cli

Usage

$ replace-in-files --help
Usage
$ replace-in-files <files…>
Options
--regex           Regex pattern to find  (Can be set multiple times)
--string          String to find  (Can be set multiple times)
--replacement     Replacement string  (Required)
--ignore-case     Search case-insensitively
--no-glob         Disable globbing
--dry-run         Show what would be replaced without making changes
Examples
$ replace-in-files --string='horse' --regex='unicorn|rainbow' --replacement='🦄' foo.md
$ replace-in-files --regex='v\d+.\d+.\d+' --replacement=v$npm_package_version foo.css
$ replace-in-files --string='blob' --replacement='blog' 'some/**/[gb]lob/*' '!some/glob/foo'
$ replace-in-files --dry-run --string='old' --replacement='new' file.txt
You can use the same replacement patterns as with String#replace(), like $&amp;.
When working with quotes in shell commands, escape them with backslashes:
$ replace-in-files --string='&quot;use strict&quot;;' --replacement='&quot;use strict&quot;;\nrequire(&quot;module&quot;);' file.js

Real-world use-case: Bumping version number in a file when publishing to npm

The regex should be JavaScript flavor.

API

You can also use this package programmatically:

import replaceInFiles from 'replace-in-files-cli';
// Find and replace
await replaceInFiles('*.js', {
find: ['old', /version \d+/],
replacement: 'new'
});
// Transform entire file content
await replaceInFiles('*.js', {
transform: (content, filePath) => /* Banner */\n${content}
});
// Combine find/replace with transform (transform runs after find/replace)
await replaceInFiles('*.js', {
find: ['old'],
replacement: 'new',
transform: (content, filePath) => /* ${filePath} */\n${content}
});

The transform option provides full control over file content:

• Standalone: Use alone for prepend, append, or complex transformations
• Combined: Use with find/replacement - transform runs after find/replace operations
• Parameters: Receives (content, filePath) for context-aware transformations