What is less Linux command?

The Linux less command is a powerful tool for viewing file contents in the terminal efficiently. It allows users to navigate through text files, search for specific content, and analyze lengthy documents with ease.

less Syntax:

less [option] [file]

less Options:

Option	Description
-N	Display line numbers
-i	Ignore case when searching
-S	Truncate long lines
-F	Quit immediately if entire file can be displayed
-h, —help	Display help message

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
file	The file to be viewed

less Command Usage Examples:

Display contents of a file

less file.txt

The command displays the contents of the “file.txt” for ease of reading.

Scroll down a file

less file.txt

To scroll down a file, press the “Space” (PgDn) key.

Scroll up a file

less file.txt

To scroll up a file, press the “b” (PgUp) key.

Search for a specific string

less file.txt

To search for a specific string within a file, type “/search_term” followed by Enter.

Jump to a specific line number

less file.txt

To jump to a specific line number within a file, type the line number followed by “g” and Enter.

Tip

When using the less command in Linux, remember that you can navigate through the file using arrow keys, page up, page down, spacebar for next page, and q to exit the program.

How do I use less in Linux?

To use the less command in bash, execute the following command:

less file.txt

How can I search for a specific text in a file using less?

To search for a specific text in a file using less, input the following command:

less file.txt
/pattern

How can I navigate to the end of a file quickly with less?

To navigate to the end of a file quickly with less, type the following command:

less file.txt
Shift + G

How can I display line numbers while viewing a file with less?

To display line numbers while viewing a file with less, run the command:

less -N file.txt

How can I view multiple files in less with a single command?

To view multiple files in less with a single command, use the following syntax:

less file1.txt file2.txt

How do I open a file with less in read-only mode?

To open a file with less in read-only mode, use the following command:

less -R file.txt

How can I navigate horizontally in less when viewing a file with long lines?

To navigate horizontally in less when viewing a file with long lines, execute the following command:

less -S file.txt

How do I exit less without viewing the entire file?

To exit less without viewing the entire file, simply use the following command:

less +G file.txt

Applications of the less command

• Viewing the contents of a file
• Navigating through a file
• Searching for specific text within a file
• Handling large files more efficiently than with cat command
• Allowing for backward navigation through a file