The less command in Linux explained
The less command lets you read a long file one screen at a time. It is one of the most useful commands for anyone using a live USB drive or a fresh Linux install.
Syntax
less file
Examples
less /var/log/syslog: scroll with the arrow keys and search with /
Tip
Press q to quit.
Keep learning
New to the terminal? Start with Linux terminal basics. You can try every command safely from a live session: see how to try Linux without installing it. Run man less in a terminal for the full manual.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see every option for less?
Run man less for the full manual, or try less --help for a short summary.
Do I need sudo to run less?
Not for your own files. You only need sudo when the command changes something owned by the system or another user.
Is it safe to practise less on a live USB drive?
Mostly yes, because a live session starts fresh each time. Be careful with commands that write to your internal disk, such as rm on a mounted drive or dd.