# help

## Introduction

The `help` command is used to provide information on built-in commands. Built-in commands are any programs bundled with your version of the bash shell. You can use the `help` command to get information on a specific command.

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## Syntax

`help [-dms] [pattern ...]`

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## Important Flags

| Flag | Description                                                                                           |
| ---- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `-d` | Output short description for each topic.                                                              |
| `-m` | Display usage in pseudo-manpage format.                                                               |
| `-s` | Output only a short usage synopsis for each topic matching PATTERN. (Pattern specifying a help topic) |


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://thamizhiniyancs.gitbook.io/cheatsheets/linux/knowing-about-files-commands/help.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.