Less Cheatsheet

less-cheatsheet.md

Less Cheatsheet

less {filename}

Navigation
SPACE	forward one window
b	backward one window
d	forward half window
u	backward half window
j	navigate forward by one line
10j	10 lines forward.
k	navigate backward by one line
10k	10 lines backward.
G	go to the end of file
g	go to the start of file
q or ZZ	exit the less pager

Search
/	search for a pattern which will take you to the next occurrence.
?	search for a pattern which will take you to the previous occurrence.
n	for next match in forward
N	for previous match in backward

Other
F	simulate tail -f inside less pager
ma	mark the current position with the letter ‘a’,
‘a	go to the marked position ‘a’.
&pattern	display only the matching lines, not all.
v	using the configured editor edit the current file.
CTRL+G	show the current file name along with line, byte and percentage statistics.

How to finish/interrupt the less command in "&pattern" mode?
Just use & again with no pattern, i.e. enter & and hit return.

as taken from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/47185850/linux-how-to-finish-interrupt-the-less-command-in-pattern-mode

Consider adding:

# Start less and follow as new lines come in
less +F foo.log

# Render lines with colors (ignore color problems, interprets color on each new line) 
less -R foo.log

# Render lines with colors (for precise color output, continues line colors for new lines until escaped) 
less -r foo.log

# Show line numbers on start
less -N foo.log

# Combine args to start and follow, show line numbers, with color
less +F -N -R foo.log

Keys	Action
ctrl c	exit search, follow, filter, etc
123g	goto line 123 (don't hit enter)
123 (space)	goto line 123 (don't hit enter)
/ then ctrl r	toggle search regex on/off
&	stop displaying matching lines