---
name: "lessc"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "node-less"
version: "3.13.0+dfsg-12"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/lessc"
---

# lessc(1)

Compiler for Less (Leaner Style Sheets) extension for CSS

## NAME

lessc - Compiler for Less (Leaner Style Sheets) extension for CSS

## DESCRIPTION

usage: lessc \[option option=parameter ...\] \<source\> \[destination\]

If source is set to \`-' (dash or hyphen-minus), input is read from stdin.

### options:

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

  Prints help (this message) and exit.

- **--include-path**=*PATHS*

  Sets include paths. Separated by \`:'. \`;' also supported on windows.

- **-M**, **--depends**

  Outputs a makefile import dependency list to stdout.

- **--no-color**

  Disables colorized output.

- **--ie-compat**

  Enables IE8 compatibility checks.

- **--js**

  Enables inline JavaScript in less files

- **-l**, **--lint**

  Syntax check only (lint).

- **-s**, **--silent**

  Suppresses output of error messages.

- **--strict-imports**

  Forces evaluation of imports.

- **--insecure**

  Allows imports from insecure https hosts.

- **-v**, **--version**

  Prints version number and exit.

- **--verbose**

  Be verbose.

- **--source-map**\[=*FILENAME*\]

  Outputs a v3 sourcemap to the filename (or output filename.map).

- **--source-map-rootpath**=*X*

  Adds this path onto the sourcemap filename and less file paths.

- **--source-map-basepath**=*X*

  Sets sourcemap base path, defaults to current working directory.

- **--source-map-include-source**

  Puts the less files into the map instead of referencing them.

- **--source-map-inline**

  Puts the map (and any less files) as a base64 data uri into the output css file.

- **--source-map-url**=*URL*

  Sets a custom URL to map file, for sourceMappingURL comment in generated CSS file.

- **--source-map-no-annotation**

  Excludes the sourceMappingURL comment from the output css file.

- **-rp**, **--rootpath**=*URL*

  Sets rootpath for url rewriting in relative imports and urls Works with or without the relative-urls option.

- **-ru=**, **--rewrite-urls=**

  Rewrites URLs to make them relative to the base less file.

- all\|local\|off

  'all' rewrites all URLs, 'local' just those starting with a '.'

**-m=**, **--math=**

- always

  Less will eagerly perform math operations always.

- parens-division

  Math performed except for division (/) operator

- parens \| strict

  Math only performed inside parentheses

- strict-legacy

  Parens required in very strict terms (legacy **--strict-math**)

- **-su**=*on*\|off

  Allows mixed units, e.g. 1px+1em or 1px\*1px which have units

- **--strict-units**=*on*\|off

  that cannot be represented.

- **--global-var=**'VAR=VALUE'

  Defines a variable that can be referenced by the file.

- **--modify-var=**'VAR=VALUE'

  Modifies a variable already declared in the file.

- **--url-args=**'QUERYSTRING'

  Adds params into url tokens (e.g. 42, cb=42 or 'a=1&b=2')

- **--plugin**=*PLUGIN=OPTIONS*

  Loads a plugin. You can also omit the **--plugin=** if the plugin begins less-plugin. E.g. the clean css plugin is called less-plugin-clean-css once installed (npm install less-plugin-clean-css), use either with **--plugin**=*less-plugin-clean-css* or just **--clean-css** specify options afterwards e.g. **--plugin**=*less-plugin-clean-css=*"advanced" or **--clean-css=**"advanced"

**--------------------------** Deprecated **----------------**

- **-sm**=*on*\|off

  Legacy parens-only math. Use **--math**

**--strict-math**=*on*\|off

- **--line-numbers**=*TYPE*

  Outputs filename and line numbers. TYPE can be either 'comments', which will output the debug info within comments, 'mediaquery' that will output the information within a fake media query which is compatible with the SASS format, and 'all' which will do both.

- **-x**, **--compress**

  Compresses output by removing some whitespaces. We recommend you use a dedicated minifer like less-plugin-clean-css

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: http://github.com/less/less.js/issues\
 Home page: \<http://lesscss.org/\>

## SEE ALSO

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

-

  **info lessc**

should give you access to the complete manual.