info Command
The info command reads GNU Info documents, which provide hypertext documentation for GNU software and other programs. Info documents offer more structured and cross-referenced documentation than traditional man pages.
Syntax
Description
The info command is a hypertext documentation reader that displays GNU Info documents. These documents are organized as a hierarchy of nodes with cross-references and links, making it easy to navigate complex documentation.
Key features:
- Hypertext navigation with cross-references
- Hierarchical document structure
- Search capabilities within documents
- Index-based topic lookup
- More detailed than man pages for GNU software
Common Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--apropos=STRING |
Look up STRING in all indices of all manuals |
-d, --directory=DIR |
Add DIR to INFOPATH |
-f, --file=FILENAME |
Specify Info file to visit |
-h, --help |
Display help and exit |
-n, --node=NODENAME |
Specify nodes in first visited Info file |
-o, --output=FILENAME |
Output selected nodes to FILENAME |
-R, --raw-escapes |
Output "raw" ANSI escapes |
--usage |
Display brief usage message |
-v, --version |
Display version information |
-w, --where |
Print physical location of Info file |
Examples
Open main info directory
Opens the main info directory with available documentation
Read specific program documentation
Opens the Bash shell documentation
Read GNU Coreutils documentation
Opens documentation for GNU core utilities
Read GCC documentation
Opens the GNU Compiler Collection documentation
Open specific node
Opens the Bash documentation at the "Bash Features" node
Search all manuals
Searches for "printf" in all available info manuals
Find info file location
Shows the physical location of the bash info file
Open specific info file
Opens a specific info file by path
Output to file
Outputs the bash manual to a text file
Add directory to search path
Adds a directory to the info search path
Navigation Commands
While reading info documents, use these keyboard commands:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
q |
Quit info |
h |
Show help tutorial |
? |
Show list of commands |
Space |
Scroll forward one screen |
Backspace |
Scroll backward one screen |
n |
Go to next node |
p |
Go to previous node |
u |
Go up one level |
t |
Go to top node |
d |
Go to directory node |
Tab |
Jump to next hyperlink |
Enter |
Follow hyperlink |
l |
Go back to last node |
s |
Search forward |
Ctrl+s |
Incremental search |
i |
Search index |
m |
Go to menu item |
g |
Go to node by name |
Understanding Info Document Structure
Info documents are organized hierarchically:
- Directory - Top-level menu of all available manuals
- File - A complete manual for a program or topic
- Node - A section within a file, like a chapter or section
- Menu - List of subnodes within a node
- Cross-references - Links to related nodes
Navigation hierarchy
Common Info Documents
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
info bash |
Bash shell documentation |
info coreutils |
GNU core utilities (ls, cp, mv, etc.) |
info gcc |
GNU Compiler Collection |
info emacs |
Emacs editor documentation |
info gawk |
GNU AWK programming language |
info sed |
Stream editor documentation |
info grep |
Pattern searching utility |
info tar |
Archive utility documentation |
Common Use Cases
When to Use info
- GNU Software - Comprehensive documentation for GNU tools
- Programming - Detailed language and compiler documentation
- System Administration - In-depth utility documentation
- Learning - Tutorial-style documentation with examples
- Reference - Cross-referenced technical documentation
Info vs Man Pages
| Feature | Info | Man Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Hierarchical with cross-references | Linear, single document |
| Navigation | Hypertext links and menus | Sequential scrolling |
| Content | Comprehensive tutorials and examples | Concise reference format |
| Search | Index-based and text search | Text search within page |
| Best for | Learning and detailed reference | Quick reference and syntax |