Less in Unix

Less is a program similar to more but which allows backward movement in the file as well as forward movement. Also, less does not have to read the entire input file before starting, so with large input files it starts up faster than text editors like vi
Less uses termcap (or terminfo on some systems), so it can run on a variety of terminals. There is even limited support for hardcopy terminals. (On a hardcopy terminal, lines which should be printed at the top of the screen are prefixed with a caret.)
whatis less
less (1) - opposite of more
less (3pm) - perl pragma to request less of something from the compiler
less (rpm) - A text file browser similar to more, but better


IN UNIX less IN MORE THAN more

Moving Commands:

Commands marked with * may be preceded by a number, N.
Notes in parentheses indicate the behavior if N is given.

 e  ^E  j  ^N  CR  *  Forward  one line   (or N lines).
 y  ^Y  k  ^K  ^P  *  Backward one line   (or N lines).
 f  ^F  ^V  SPACE  *  Forward  one window (or N lines).
 b  ^B  ESC-v      *  Backward one window (or N lines).
 z                 *  Forward  one window (and set window to N).
 w                 *  Backward one window (and set window to N).
 ESC-SPACE         *  Forward  one window, but don't stop at end-of-file.
 d  ^D             *  Forward  one half-window (and set half-window to N).
 u  ^U             *  Backward one half-window (and set half-window to N).
 ESC-(  RightArrow *  Left  8 character positions (or N positions).
 ESC-)  LeftArrow  *  Right 8 character positions (or N positions).
 F                    Forward forever; like "tail -f".
 r  ^R  ^L            Repaint screen.
 R                    Repaint screen, discarding buffered input.

 h  H                 Display this help.
 q  :q  Q  :Q  ZZ     Exit.