less

Purpose

View text files one screen at a time (and scroll backwards if necessary).

Syntax

less [options] filenames

Options

-? displays a list of commands you can use in less.

-p text displays the first line where text is found.

-s reduces multiple blank lines to a single blank line.

Description

The less command displays the specified files one screen at a time. Unlike when you use more, you can press b, Ctrl-B, or Esc-V to scroll backwards. To view the commands you can use to interact with less, press h while you are viewing a file in less.