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man

The man (manual) command is used to display the user manual of any command or utility available on a Linux system. Each manual entry provides detailed information about the command, including its usage, options, and examples.

Basic Usage

  • Syntax:

    man [options] [command]

  • Examples:

    man ls
    • Displays the manual page for the ls command.
    man -k "file management"
    • Searches the manual page names and descriptions for the keyword "file management."
    man 5 passwd
    • Displays the manual page from section 5 (file formats) for the passwd file.

Common Options

  • -k [keyword] or --apropos [keyword]:

    • Searches for a keyword in all manual pages.
    man -k network
    • Lists all manual pages that mention "network."

  • -f [command] or --whatis [command]:

    • Displays a brief description of the specified command.
    man -f tar
    • Shows a brief description of the tar command.

  • -a [command]:

    • Displays all available manual pages for the specified command, one after another.
    man -a intro
    • Displays all manual pages for intro from different sections.

  • -s [section] [command]:

    • Displays the manual page from the specified section.
    man -s 2 chmod
    • Displays the manual page for chmod from section 2 (system calls).

  • --help:

    • Displays help information about the man command itself.
    man --help
    • Shows usage information and options for man.

Common Sections of the Linux Manual

Section Description
1 User commands (executable programs)
2 System calls (kernel functions)
3 Library functions (programming libraries)
4 Special files (usually in /dev)
5 File formats and conventions
6 Games and screensavers
7 Miscellaneous (including macro packages)
8 System administration commands
9 Kernel routines (non-standard)

Quick Tips

  • Navigating in man:

    • Use the arrow keys or j/k to scroll up and down.
    • Press / to search within the manual page.
    • Press q to quit the manual page.

  • Finding Related Commands:

    • Use man -k [keyword] to find commands related to a specific keyword.
    man -k directory
    • Lists all commands related to directories.

  • Viewing Other Sections:

    • If a command has entries in multiple sections, specify the section number to view a particular one.
    man 3 printf
    • Views the library function version of printf (section 3).

Summary

The man command is an essential tool for learning about and mastering commands in Linux. It provides detailed documentation on virtually every command and utility, including their options, usage, and examples. Knowing how to effectively use man will greatly enhance your ability to work with Linux systems.