====== Command Arguments ======

  * [[Shell Commands]]

A quick note about commands and **arguments**.  A lot of programs use a similar syntax when it comes to passing arguments (or options) to a command.  Not all do, but it's a good chance they do.

If there is a **short command**, the argument generally begins with one dash:

<code>
$ ls -a
</code>

If there is a **long command** that does something similar, it generally begins with two dashes, followed by a word:

<code>
$ ls --all
</code>

There are exceptions to these, but this is mostly true.