info

Display program documentation and manuals

TLDR

Start reading top-level directory menu

$ info

Start reading at given menu item node from top-level directory

$ info [menu_item]

Start reading at second menu item within first menu item manual

$ info [first_menu_item] [second_menu_item]

SYNOPSIS

info [OPTION]... [MENU-ENTRY]...

--apropos=STRING
    Find commands by looking up STRING in the descriptions of commands' documentation.

--directory
    Instead of reading entry, read the directory.

--dribble
    Store all keystrokes to file.

--file=FILE
    Display Info file FILE instead of the default.

--help
    Display help and exit.

--info-dir=DIR
    Look in DIR for Info files.

--output=FILE
    Send output to FILE.

--submenus
    Follow all menu entries in the top-level dir menu.

--version
    Display version information and exit.

DESCRIPTION

The `info` command is a powerful text-based documentation browser on Linux and other Unix-like systems. It allows users to navigate and read documentation that is formatted in the GNU Info format, which is a hypertext-based system. Unlike `man` pages, Info pages are structured as a tree of nodes, making it easier to jump between related topics and delve deeper into specific subjects. The `info` command provides a user-friendly interface with commands for moving between nodes, searching for text, and accessing indexes. It is an invaluable tool for understanding complex software packages and system utilities. `info` reads compiled documentation and displays them on the terminal. It allows the user to move in the tree structure of a manual. It also allows the user to search for specific strings within the manual.

CAVEATS

The availability and content of Info pages vary depending on the software installed on the system. The Info format might be replaced by other formats over time.

KEY BINDINGS

The `info` command uses key bindings for navigation.
n: Move to the next node.
p: Move to the previous node.
u: Move to the upper node.
q: Quit the `info` command.
?: Open the help page.

HISTORY

The `info` command is part of the GNU project and was created to provide a more structured and navigable alternative to traditional `man` pages. It was designed to accompany GNU software and became a standard tool on GNU/Linux distributions. The first version was released in the mid-1980s.