Table of Contents
9. Conventions used in this document
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 blue 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 ”. |
| prompt | User prompt, usually followed by a command that you type in a terminal window, like in hilda@home> ls -l |
| command options arguments | 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: “SelectHelp→About Mozilla in your browser.” |
| Terminology | Important term or concept: “The Linux kernel is the heart of the system.” |
\ | The backslash in a terminal view or command synopsis indicates an unfinished line. In other words, if you see a long command that is cut into multiple lines, \ means “Don't press Enter yet!” |
| See Chapter 1 | link to related subject within this guide. |
| Google Linux | Clickable link to an external web resource. |
The following images are used:
