1.2. Conventions

The pocket reference follows certain typographic conventions, outlined here:

Constant Width

Is used for code examples, commands, directory names, filenames, and options.

Constant Width Italic

Is used in syntax and command summaries to show replaceable text; this text should be replaced with user-supplied values.

Constant Width Bold

Is used in code examples to show commands or other text that should be typed literally by the user.

Italic

Is used to show generic arguments and options; these should be replaced with user-supplied values. Italic is also used to highlight comments in examples.

$

Is used in some examples as the Bourne shell or Korn shell prompt.

[ ]

Surround optional elements in a description of syntax. (The brackets themselves should never be typed.)