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Using the man Command in the ChromeOS Linux Environment

The man (manual) command in Linux is used to display the user manual for any command or utility. It provides essential information about command usage, options, and configuration, making it an invaluable resource for both beginners and advanced users in the ChromeOS Linux (Crostini) environment.

Installing man (If Not Preinstalled)

Most ChromeOS Linux environments come with man preinstalled. However, if it is missing, you can install it using:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install man-db

Using man

Viewing a Manual Page

To access the manual page for a command, use:

man <command>

For example, to view the manual for ls:

man ls

Searching Within a Manual Page

While viewing a manual page, you can search for keywords by pressing / and typing the search term. Press n to navigate to the next match.

  • Arrow keys / Page Up / Page Down – Scroll through the manual.
  • q – Quit the manual.
  • h – View help inside the manual.

Displaying Only Command Descriptions

To display a short description of a command without opening its full manual page:

man -f <command>

For example:

man -f grep

Searching for Commands by Keyword

If you are unsure of the exact command name, you can search using a keyword:

man -k <keyword>

For example:

man -k network

Viewing Specific Sections

Linux manual pages are divided into sections. To view a specific section, specify the section number:

man <section> <command>

For example, to view section 2 of open:

man 2 open

Practical Use Cases

  • Learning about command options and usage: 
    man find
  • Finding related commands using keyword search: 
    man -k disk
  • Understanding system calls and programming functions: 
    man 3 printf

Conclusion

The man command is an essential tool for understanding Linux commands and their usage in the ChromeOS Linux environment. Whether troubleshooting, learning new commands, or refining your workflow, man provides a reliable source of detailed information.