Linux in a Nutshell, 6th Edition

Name

help

Synopsis

help [-s] [pattern]

Print usage information on standard output for each Bash command that matches pattern. The information includes descriptions of each command’s options. With the -s option, print only brief usage information.

Examples

$ help -s cd        Short help
cd: cd [-L|-P] [dir]

$ help true         Full help
true: true
     Return a successful result.

     Exit Status:
     Always succeeds.