Title: Getting Help - man Pages
Course: CIS 121: Linux/UNIX I: Fundamentals ~ For IGNITE Review > Section: Learning Modules

man pages are a quick reference, but the content often assumes you have some prior knowledge.

Syntax: man command_name will find basic information about the command.

- man – Basic information on a command
- whatis – searches summary information
- apropos – searches name and description

Man pages contain the following content:

- Name of command, call or file
- Synopsis
- Description
- Options
- Files
- See also
- Bugs
- History
- Author

Depending on the system, man pages default to using the pages “more” or “less”.

- For help in “more”, use “?”.
- For help in “less”, use “h”.

Below is a small section of the ls man page.