LINUX COMMAND ATLAS · COMMAND GUIDE

Linux less command

Read long text one screen at a time. Search with / and quit with q.

less manual

Syntax

Command form

less [OPTION]... [FILE]...

6 options

Option	What it does
`-N, --LINE-NUMBERS`	Show line numbers.
`-S, --chop-long-lines`	Do not wrap long lines; scroll horizontally instead.
`-i`	Ignore case in searches when the pattern has no uppercase letters.
`-F, --quit-if-one-screen`	Exit if the entire file fits on one screen.
`-R`	Allow ANSI colour and control sequences to pass through.
`+F`	Follow file growth, similar to tail -f; Ctrl+C returns to browsing.

3 examples

Read long text one screen at a time. Search with / and quit with q.

less /var/log/syslog

Browse a log with line numbers.

less -N /var/log/syslog

Follow new log output, then press Ctrl+C to browse.

less +F app.log

Press q to quit. Search with /text, then use n and N to move between matches.