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less — Open a file for interactive reading, allowing scrolling and search. More information: <https://manne

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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Problem

How to use the less command: Open a file for interactive reading, allowing scrolling and search. More information: <https://manned.org/less>.

Solution

less — Open a file for interactive reading, allowing scrolling and search. More information: <https://manned.org/less>.

Open a file for interactive reading:

less {{path/to/source_file}}

Page down/up:

{{<Space>|<b>}}

Go to end/start of file:

{{<G>|<g>}}

Forward search for a string (press <n>/<N> to go to next/previous match):

</>{{pattern}}

Backward search for a string (press <n>/<N> to go to next/previous match):

<?>{{pattern}}

Follow the output of the currently opened file:

<F>

Open the current file in an editor:

<v>

Exit:

<q>

Code Snippets

Open a file for interactive reading

less {{path/to/source_file}}

Page down/up

{{<Space>|<b>}}

Go to end/start of file

{{<G>|<g>}}

Forward search for a string (press `<n>`/`<N>` to go to next/previous match)

</>{{pattern}}

Backward search for a string (press `<n>`/`<N>` to go to next/previous match)

<?>{{pattern}}

Context

tldr-pages: common/less

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