About explainshell
Explainshell is a web tool that breaks down command-line arguments by displaying the corresponding help text, making it easier to understand complex shell commands. Users can select manpages from different Linux distributions for accurate explanations.
FAQ
You can write down a command-line in the input box on explainshell.com, and it will display the help text that matches each argument.
Yes, you can pick which distro's manpages to use. Options include all, arch/latest, and ubuntu/26.04.
Yes, the site provides examples such as :(){ :|:& };:, a loop to print crontab entries for all users, a command to check success or failure, and more.
You can paste complex commands like 'ssh -i keyfile -f -N -L 1234:www.google.com:80 host' or 'tar zcf - some-dir | ssh some-server "cd /; tar xvzf -"' into explainshell.com to see the breakdown of each argument.
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