grep -r shouldn't follow symlinks, -R does however: -d, --directories=ACTION how to handle directories; ACTION is 'read', 'r

grep -r shouldn't follow symlinks, -R does however: -d, --directories=ACTION how to handle directories; ACTION is 'read', 'recurse', or 'skip' -D, --devices=ACTION how to handle devices, FIFOs and sockets; ACTION is 'read' or 'skip' -r, --recursive like --directories=recurse -R, --dereference-recursive likewise, but follow all symlinks