2.3.2 Reference Page Command Syntax

Unless otherwise noted, commands described in the Synopsis section of a reference page accept options and other arguments according to the following syntax and must be interpreted as explained below.

name [ -option . . . ] [cmdarg . . . ]

where name is the name of an executable file and option is a string of one of the following two types: noargletter . . . or argletter optarg [, . . .]

An option is always preceded by a "-".

noargletter

A single letter representing an option that requires no option-argument. More than one noargletter can be grouped after a "-" .

optarg

A character string that satisfies a preceding argletter. Multiple optargs following a single argletter must be separated by commas, or separated by white space and enclosed in quotes.

cmdarg

A pathname (or other command argument) that represents an operand of the command.

-

(dash) By itself means that additional arguments are provided in the standard input.

--

(two dashes) Means that what follows are arguments for a subordinate program.

[ ]

Surrounding an option or cmdarg, mean that the option or argument is not required.

{ }

Surrounding cmdargs that are separated by an or sign, mean that one of the choices must be selected if the associated option is used.

"OR" argument

. . .

Means that multiple occurrences of the option or cmdarg are permitted.