# Get help!

### Man-db

When installing a package via `apt-get`, you may have noticed a process that seems to take quite a while:

```
processing triggers for man-db...
```

This is a super-helpful tool for accessing concise documentation for practically any command, and can be used quite easily. Simply choose a command to read documentation on (`ls` is a good place to start), and type `man` followed by the name of the command. For this example, the command is ls:

```bash
man ls
```

An interactive window will then appear, with 3 main headings:

1. `NAME`
2. `SYNOPSIS`
3. `DESCRIPTION`

Keep the following keyboard controls in mind to navigate `man-db`:

| Key             | Usage                                                          |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Up arrow`      | Scroll up one line                                             |
| `Down arrow`    | Scroll down one line                                           |
| `Q`             | Quit                                                           |
| `Page up`       | Scroll one page (this will change based on your window height) |
| `Page down`     | Scroll one page (this will change based on your window height) |
| `/`             | Enter search mode (then type your search term and press enter) |
| `n`             | Go to the next search term (if applicable)                     |
| `N` (shift + n) | Go to the previous search term (if applicable)                 |

### Built-in help

If there is no `man` page for a certain command, you may find it has a built-in help utility. There are generally 2 cases:

1. The program will print basic information when called with the flag `--help`.
2. The program will print basic information or refer you to its help command when called with no arguments (keep in mind that some commands such as `cd`just use default parameters, and omitting them will not call a help utility)

## Order of commands/TL;DR

If you are looking for help with a function use this order to find it:

1. Type `man` followed by the command name
2. Type the command with the flag of `--help`
3. Type the command and see if it refers you somewhere