Man page
electronic documentation file format
A man page (sometimes spelled manpage), short for manual page, is a form of software documentation found on Unix and Unix-like operating systems. Topics covered include programs, system libraries, system calls, and sometimes local system details. The local host administrators can create and install manual pages associated with the specific host. A manual end user may invoke a documentation page by issuing the man command followed by the name of the item for which they want the documentation. These manual pages are typically requested by end users, programmers and administrators doing real time work but can also be formatted for printing.
By default, man typically uses a formatting program such as nroff with a macro package or mandoc, and also a terminal pager program such as more or less to display its output on the user's screen.
Man pages are often referred to as an online form of software documentation, even though the man command does not require Internet access, because man pages are available from a command-line interface with the man command or from a graphical user interface with a man-page viewer, rather than only being readable in printed form. The environment variable MANPATH often specifies a list of directory paths to search for the various documentation pages. Manual pages date back to when printed documentation was the norm.
History
With some software, as of 1987, documentation was printed pages, available on the premises to users.
The public source identifies “Man page” as electronic documentation file format. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around page, electronic and documentation.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Man page”, the useful work is to connect “electronic documentation file format” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 8, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q47512572. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1987.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Man page”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Man page primary sources, Man page archive and page research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Man page”?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Man page” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.