---
name: "info"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "texinfo"
version: "7.3-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/info"
---

# info(1)

read Info documents

## NAME

info - read Info documents

## SYNOPSIS

**info** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*MENU-ITEM*...\]

## DESCRIPTION

Read documentation in Info format.

### Frequently-used options:

- **-a**, **--all**

  use all matching manuals

- **-k**, **--apropos**=*STRING*

  look up STRING in all indices of all manuals

- **-d**, **--directory**=*DIR*

  add DIR to INFOPATH

- **-f**, **--file**=*MANUAL*

  specify Info manual to visit

- **-h**, **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--index-search**=*STRING*

  go to node pointed by index entry STRING

- **-n**, **--node**=*NODENAME*

  specify nodes in first visited Info file

- **-o**, **--output**=*FILE*

  output selected nodes to FILE

- **--subnodes**

  recursively output menu items

- **-v**, **--variable** VAR=VALUE

  assign VALUE to Info variable VAR

- **--version**

  display version information and exit

- **-w**, **--where**, **--location**

  print physical location of Info file

The first non-option argument, if present, is the menu entry to start from; it is searched for in all 'dir' files along INFOPATH. If it is not present, info merges all 'dir' files and shows the result. Any remaining arguments are treated as the names of menu items relative to the initial node visited.

For a summary of key bindings, type H within Info.

-

  Examples:

- info

  show top-level dir menu

- info info-stnd

  show the manual for this Info program

- info emacs

  start at emacs node from top-level dir

- info emacs buffers

  select buffers menu entry in emacs manual

- info emacs **-n** Files

  start at Files node within emacs manual

- info '(emacs)Files'

  alternative way to start at Files node

- info **--subnodes** **-o** out.txt emacs

  dump entire emacs manual to out.txt

- info **-f** ./foo.info

  show file ./foo.info, not searching dir

## REPORTING BUGS

Email bug reports to bug-texinfo@gnu.org, general questions and discussion to help-texinfo@gnu.org.\
 Texinfo home page: https://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **info** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** program is properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info info**

should give you access to the complete manual. (Or, if you have Emacs, M-x info will lead to the manual.)