---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, linux]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# whatis

> Display one-line descriptions from manual pages.
> See also: `man`, `whereis`.
> More information: <https://manned.org/whatis>.

- Display a description from a man page:

`whatis {{command}}`

- Don't cut the description off at the end of the line:

`whatis {{[-l|--long]}} {{command}}`

- Display descriptions for all commands matching a glob:

`whatis {{[-w|--wildcard]}} {{net*}}`

- Search man page descriptions with a `regex`:

`whatis {{[-r|--regex]}} '{{wish[0-9]\.[0-9]}}'`

- Display descriptions in a specific language:

`whatis {{[-L|--locale]}} {{en}} {{command}}`