— Test: -type c

True if the file is of type c:

b

block (buffered) special

c

character (unbuffered) special

d

directory

p

named pipe (FIFO)

f

regular file

l

symbolic link

s

socket

D

door (Solaris)

— Test: -xtype c

The same as -type unless the file is a symbolic link. For symbolic links: if -follow has not been given, true if the file is a link to a file of type c; if -follow has been given, true if c is l. In other words, for symbolic links, -xtype checks the type of the file that -type does not check. See Symbolic Links, for more information on -follow.