less

less [-[+]aBcCdeEfFgGiIJKLmMnNqQrRsSuUVwWX~]
     [-b space] [-h lines] [-j line] [-k keyfile]
     [-{oO} logfile] [-p pattern] [-P prompt] [-t tag]
     [-T tagsfile] [-x tab,...] [-y lines] [-[z] lines]
     [-# shift] [+[+]cmd] [--] [filename]...

less is the opposite of more

less is a program similar to more, but which allows backward movement in the file as well as forward movement. Also, less does not have to read the entire input file before starting, so with large input files it starts up faster than text editors like vi

Examples

Display the contents of a file, screen by screen

less /var/log/messages

When viewing the file, you can navigate using PageUp, PageDown, Cursor keys, Home, End, etc

Using less as a filter

ps -ef | less

shellspells beta

less

Examples