4.2.3 slocate Database Format

The slocate program uses a database format similar to, but not quite the same as, GNU locate. The first byte of the database specifies its security level. If the security level is 0, slocate will read, match and print filenames on the basis of the information in the database only. However, if the security level byte is 1, slocate omits entries from its output if the invoking user is unable to access them. The second byte of the database is zero. The second byte is immediately followed by the first database entry. The first entry in the database is not preceded by any differential count or dummy entry. Instead the differential count for the first item is assumed to be zero.

Starting with the second entry (if any) in the database, data is interpreted as for the GNU LOCATE02 format.