---
name: "webster"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "surfraw"
version: "1.0.7-1"
release: "Debian 3.0 (Woody)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/surfraw"
---

# webster(1)

a fast unix command line interface to WWW services

Part of [surfraw(1)](/surfraw/1.md).

## NAME

surfraw - a fast unix command line interface to WWW services

## SYNOPSIS

**surfraw** \[*options*\] search\_words...

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **surfraw** commands.  This manual page was written for the Debian GNU/Linux distribution because the original program does not have a manual page. It could be incomplete and/or not so up-to-date.\
 See /usr/share/doc/surfraw/README for documentation.\

**surfraw** provides a fast unix command line interface to a variety of popular WWW search engines and other artifacts of power. It reclaims google, altavista, dejanews, freshmeat, research index, slashdot and many others from the false-prophet, pox-infested heathen lands of html-forms, placing these wonders where they belong, deep in unix heartland, as god loving extensions to the shell.

## OPTIONS

Global options:\

- **-help**

  Show summary of options (local options too).

- **-version**

  Show version of program.

- **-browser=EXECUTABLE**

  Set browser (default: links)

- **-elvi**

  Display a list of other Surfraw mechanims for conquering evil

- **-escape-url-args=yesno**

  Apply url escaping to arguments (default: yes)

- **-p0rn=yesno**

  Yes, yes, harder, deeper, faster, oh baybe (default: yes)

- **-qquote**

  Bracket arguments with

- **-quiet=yesno**

  I can't enjoy it with you talking all the time (default: no)\

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by Christian Surchi \<csurchi@debian.org\>, for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).