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  1. Learning

Introduction to the ‘man’ Command in Linux

Published June 9, 2023 in Linux man

Learning how to use the ‘man’ command can significantly enhance your understanding and productivity when using Linux systems. This command, short for ‘manual’, is an indispensable resource that provides extensive documentation for most Linux commands and programs. This article will walk you through the basics of using the ‘man’ command.

What Is the ‘man’ Command?

In Linux, the ‘man’ command is used to display the user manual for any command that can be run on the terminal. It provides detailed information about the command, including its name, synopsis, description, options, and examples.

How to Use the ‘man’ Command

In Linux, the ‘man’ command is used to display the user manual for any command that can be run on the terminal. It provides detailed information about the command, including its name, synopsis, description, options, and examples.

Man command in Linux (example man ls)

Understanding a Manual Page

When you use the ‘man’ command, you’ll be presented with a lot of information. Here’s how to decipher it:

  • NAME: This section provides the name of the command and a brief description of what it does
  • SYNOPSIS: Here, you’ll see the command and how it can be invoked, along with various options
  • DESCRIPTION: A more detailed explanation of what the command does
  • OPTIONS: This section explains the different options that can be used with the command
  • EXAMPLES: Some ‘man’ pages contain examples of how to use the command
  • SEE ALSO: This part provides references to other related commands
  • BUGS: If known, this section lists any bugs and sometimes ways to circumvent them
  • AUTHOR: Information about the author(s) or organization that created or maintains the command

Navigating the Manual Page

Manual pages can be quite lengthy. To navigate through them, you can use the following keys:

  • up/down arrow – scroll the information up or down
  • e or j – move one line up
  • y or h – move one line down
  • z – move one window down
  • w – move one window up
  • d – move half a window down
  • u – move halfway up the window
  • / – search for occurrences of specific symbols going forward
  • ? – same as previous, only search backward
  • n – display the next occurrence in search mode
  • N – in search mode, this displays the previous occurrence

Finding Option of the ‘man’ Command

If you’re unsure about the command you need, you can use the ‘man’ command with the ‘-k’ option followed by a keyword to search the short descriptions and manual page names:

man -k search_keyword

For instance, to find commands related to “copy”, you would type:

man -k copy

This will return a list of all manual pages with “copy” in their title or description.

Searching for "copy" with the man command

The ‘man’ command is a vital tool in the arsenal of every Linux user. It empowers you to understand the functionality and options of various Linux commands, enabling you to solve problems and perform tasks more efficiently. Learning to utilize this resource effectively is a significant step towards becoming proficient in Linux.

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