whatis - macOS

Overview

whatis is a macOS command-line utility that provides a concise description of a given macOS command, utility, or feature. It’s an invaluable tool for quickly finding information about a wide range of built-in functions.

Syntax

whatis [-a] [-e] [-p] command_name...

Options/Flags

-a: Display all possible matches for the specified command name.
-e: Display the exact match for the specified command name.
-p: Display the section header for each match.

Examples

Retrieve a description of the ls command:
```
whatis ls
```
Display all possible matches for the rm command:
```
whatis -a rm
```
Search for the exact match for the mkdir command and include the section header:
```
whatis -ep mkdir
```

Common Issues

No matches found: Ensure that the command name is spelled correctly and that it’s recognized as a built-in macOS command.
Ambiguous matches: If multiple commands match the specified name, use the -a option to display all possibilities.

Integration

whatis can be combined with other macOS commands to enhance functionality. For example:

find -exec whatis ; to find and display descriptions of commands in a specific directory.

man: Displays detailed manual pages for commands and utilities.
help: Provides help for specific macOS commands.