The following typographic and usage conventions occur in this text:
Table 1. Typographic and usage conventions
| Text type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "Quoted text" | Quotes from people, quoted computer output. |
terminal view | Literal computer input and output captured from the terminal, usually rendered with a light grey background. |
| command | Name of a command that can be entered on the command line. |
VARIABLE | Name of a variable or pointer to content of a variable, as in
$VARNAME. |
option | Option to a command, as in "the -a option to the
ls command". |
argument | Argument to a command, as in "read
man ls". |
command | Command synopsis or general usage, on a separated line. |
| filename | Name of a file or directory, for example "Change to the /usr/bin directory." |
| Key | Keys to hit on the keyboard, such as "type Q to quit". |
| Button | Graphical button to click, like the OK button. |
| Menu->Choice | Choice to select from a graphical menu, for instance: "Select Help->About Mozilla in your browser." |
| Terminology | Important term or concept: "The Linux kernel is the heart of the system." |
| See Chapter 2 | link to related subject within this guide. |
| The online POD | Clickable link to an external web resource. |