Bash Guide for Beginners
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9. Conventions used in this document

The following typographic and usage conventions occur in this text:

Table 1. Typographic and usage conventions

Text type Meaning

"Quoted text" Quotes from people, quoted computer output.

terminal view

Literal computer input and output captured from the terminal, usually rendered with a light grey background.

command Name of a command that can be entered on the command line.

VARIABLE Name of a variable or pointer to content of a variable, as in $VARNAME.

option Option to a command, as in "the -a option to the ls command".

argument Argument to a command, as in "read man ls".

command options arguments

Command synopsis or general usage, on a separated line.

filename Name of a file or directory, for example "Change to the /usr/bin directory."

Key Keys to hit on the keyboard, such as "type Q to quit".

Button Graphical button to click, like the OK button.

Menu->Choice Choice to select from a graphical menu, for instance: "Select Help->About Mozilla in your browser."

Terminology Important term or concept: "The Linux kernel is the heart of the system."

The backslash in a terminal view or command synopsis indicates an unfinished line. In other words, if you see a long command that is cut into multiple lines, \ means "Don't press Enter yet!"

See Chapter 1 link to related subject within this guide.

The author Clickable link to an external web resource.

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