[Unix] C Shell (csh) finger Usage: Display user information

Overview

The finger command is used to display information about users on a system. It provides details such as login name, real name, terminal, idle time, and more. This command is particularly useful for system administrators and users who want to see who is logged in and gather information about them.

Usage

The basic syntax of the finger command is as follows:

finger [options] [arguments]

Common Options

• -l: Displays a longer format of user information, including the user’s home directory and shell.
• -m: Matches the user name case-insensitively.
• -s: Displays a short format, showing only the login name and the user’s real name.
• -p: Suppresses the display of the user’s plan file and project information.

Common Examples

Here are some practical examples of how to use the finger command:

1. Display information about all users:

   finger
   

2. Display detailed information about a specific user:

   finger username
   

3. Show a short format of user information:

   finger -s
   

4. Display information about a user without showing their plan file:

   finger -p username
   

5. Case-insensitive search for a user:

   finger -m USERNAME
   

Tips

• Use finger to quickly check who is logged into the system and their status.
• Combine options for more specific queries, such as finger -ls username for detailed information in a short format.
• Remember that the availability of the finger command may depend on your system configuration and user permissions.