How to grep recursively, but only in files with certain extensions?

Just use the --include parameter, like this:

grep -inr --include \*.h --include \*.cpp CP_Image ~/path[12345] | mailx -s GREP [email protected]

that should do what you want.

To take the explanation from HoldOffHunger's answer below:

grep: command
-r: recursively
-i: ignore-case
-n: each output line is preceded by its relative line number in the file
--include \*.cpp: all *.cpp: C++ files (escape with \ just in case you have a directory with asterisks in the filenames)
./: Start at current directory.

Some of these answers seemed too syntax-heavy, or they produced issues on my Debian Server. This worked perfectly for me:

grep -r --include=\*.txt 'searchterm' ./

...or case-insensitive version...

grep -r -i --include=\*.txt 'searchterm' ./

grep: command
-r: recursively
-i: ignore-case
--include: all *.txt: text files (escape with \ just in case you have a directory with asterisks in the filenames)
'searchterm': What to search
./: Start at current directory.

Source: PHP Revolution: How to Grep files in Linux, but only certain file extensions?

grep -rnw "some thing to grep" --include=*.{module,inc,php,js,css,html,htm} ./

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