Why Doesn't Control-C Work in the Linux 'less' Command?

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SUMMARY

The 'less' command in Linux does not respond to Control-C due to its design, which intentionally ignores this interrupt signal. Instead, users can exit the 'less' environment by pressing the 'q' key. While some implementations of 'less' may allow Control-C to function as an exit command, this behavior is not standard across all versions. Understanding this design choice clarifies why users experience difficulty when attempting to exit 'less' using Control-C.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of Linux command line operations
  • Familiarity with the 'less' command and its functionalities
  • Knowledge of keyboard shortcuts in terminal applications
  • Awareness of process management in Linux
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the 'less' command options and configurations in Linux
  • Explore alternative text viewers like 'more' and their exit commands
  • Learn about signal handling in Linux, specifically how commands respond to Control-C
  • Investigate process management commands such as 'fg' and 'bg' for handling suspended processes
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Linux users, system administrators, and developers who frequently work with command line tools and seek to enhance their efficiency in navigating text files.

ehrenfest
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[SOLVED] getting out of less

How do you get out of the "less" environment in linux? The normal control-C does not work and I am not sure why. I usually just resort to control-Z but then I have to go back and kill the process which is annoying.

EDIT: apparently .q works; but can someone please explain why the normal control-C does not work?
 
Last edited:
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The designer of 'less' chose to make it ignore ctrl-c, I don't know why.
Some implementations quit on ctrl-C but this isn't the standard behaviour.
 

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