elinks

Open a URL in the text browser

$ elinks [https://example.com]

$ elinks -new-window [https://example.com]

$ elinks -dump [https://example.com]

$ elinks -dump -dump-width [80] [https://example.com]

$ elinks [path/to/bookmarks.html]

$ elinks -config-dir [/path/to/config]

$ echo "[<h1>Hello</h1>]" | elinks -dump

$ elinks -no-home [https://example.com]

elinks [-dump] [-source] [-no-home] [-config-dir path] [url]

ELinks is a feature-rich text-mode web browser for terminals. It renders HTML pages with support for tables, frames, colors, and forms, providing a usable web experience without a graphical interface.
The browser supports tabbed browsing, bookmarks, history, cookies, HTTP authentication, and downloads. Navigation uses keyboard shortcuts: g for go to URL, d to download, Tab to move between links, Enter to follow links, and q to quit.
ELinks can execute JavaScript (when compiled with SpiderMonkey support), handle CSS styling to some extent, and render complex layouts better than simpler browsers like Lynx. Forms, including multi-select and file uploads, work properly.
The -dump mode is particularly useful for scripts, converting web pages to plain text. Combined with shell pipes, it enables command-line web scraping. The output respects terminal width and formats tables as text.
Configuration is stored in ~/.elinks/ including options, bookmarks, cookies, and history. The setup manager (press o in the browser) provides an interactive interface for customization.

-dump

Render page to stdout and exit (non-interactive).

Width for dumped output (default: 80).

Print page source instead of rendering.

Don't use or create a home directory for config.

Use alternate configuration directory.

Restrict to safe operations (for public terminals).

Open URL in new window instead of tab.

Send command to running ELinks instance.

Print version information.

Display help.

JavaScript support is limited compared to modern browsers. Some CSS-heavy sites may not render well. HTTPS requires proper SSL library support. Memory usage can be high with many tabs. Flash and other plugins are not supported.

ELinks is a fork of Links browser that began in 2001, adding features like tabs, mouse support, and improved rendering. The name stands for "Extended Links." While active development has slowed, it remains popular for server administration and terminal-centric workflows.

lynx(1), w3m(1), links(1), curl(1), wget(1)