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The apropos command in Linux is an essential tool for both beginners and advanced users who are looking to quickly find relevant manual pages on commands, functions, and other topics. It is a powerful and efficient way to navigate through the large amount of manual pages available on a Unix-like system.
In this article, we will understand how to use the apropos command in Linux and common options using different examples.
The apropos command Linux searches the manual page names and descriptions. Essentially, it helps users find other commands or keywords that contain a specified string in their names or descriptions. For instance, if you are looking for all commands related to “network” apropos will list all relevant manual pages.
First, connect with the server via SSH. The basic syntax of the apropos command is quite simple:
apropos [option] keyword
Here’s what the components mean:
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The basic apropos command example is to search for a command related to “network,” you can simply type the following:
apropos network
This will return a list of all commands whose descriptions or names include the word “network”.
You can also search for multiple keywords. Type the following command:
apropos e "network|server"
This command will list all manual pages related to either “network” or “server”.
The apropos command has several options that can enhance its functionality:
By default, apropos does not perform a case-sensitive search. To make it case-insensitive, use the i option:
apropos i email
The e option allows you to use regular expressions:
Use the w option to find exact matches of the keyword:
apropos w network
To display the section number of the manual pages use the s option:
apropos s 2 network
The apropos command is particularly useful in various scenarios:
1. If you know the functionality you need but can’t remember the exact command apropos can help. For example, if you want to perform a backup and can not remember the command you can search:
apropos backup
2. For users who are new to Linux apropos can serve as a learning tool. By exploring keywords related to your tasks you can discover commands you were not previously aware of.
3. apropos can be used in scripts to dynamically find and list commands related to specific tasks making your scripts more flexible and powerful.
Learn about How to Use the wall Command in Linux.
Following are some limitations while using the apropos command in Linux:
man-db
Following are some important notes while using the apropos command in Linux:
mandb
The apropos command is a versatile and powerful tool for navigating the extensive manual pages available on Unix-like systems. Whether you are a beginner trying to learn more about available commands or an advanced user looking to script and automate tasks apropos can significantly streamline your workflow. By mastering its options and understanding its applications you can make the most out of this command and enhance your Linux experience.
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The apropos command helps find manual pages related to a specific keyword.
Type apropos followed by a keyword to search for relevant commands and descriptions.
Yes, apropos is used to find system commands by keywords in their descriptions.
Yes, you can use partial keywords and apropos will return matching results.
No, any user can run the apropos command without special permissions.
It shows a list of commands with a brief description based on your keyword.
Yes, you can search using multiple keywords to refine the results.
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