What is the function of the asterisk (*) symbol in file searches?

The function of the asterisk (*) symbol in file searches is to find any word or file name. In many operating systems and search utilities, the asterisk serves as a wildcard character. This means it can represent any sequence of characters, allowing users to perform more flexible and broad searches.

For example, if a user types ".txt" in a search query, it will return all files with the .txt extension, regardless of their names. Similarly, searching for "report" would return files named "report1", "report_summary", and any file that starts with "report". This capability simplifies the process of locating files, enabling users to efficiently explore directories or data without needing to specify an exact file name.

Understanding the role of the asterisk in search queries is crucial for effective file management and data retrieval, particularly in environments with numerous files or complex naming conventions.