mandb:tldr:e3f8a

The command "mandb" is used to populate or update the manual page database on a Unix-like operating system.

Manual pages (or man pages) are documentation files that contain information about various Unix commands or system functions. These pages are typically accessed using the "man" command followed by the name of the command or topic you want to learn more about.

The "mandb" command is responsible for creating a compressed database that allows for faster retrieval of manual pages. When it is run, it scans the directories specified in the MANPATH environment variable (usually /usr/share/man) and processes all the manual pages found in these directories. It then generates an index and compresses the pages into a format that can be quickly searched.

By running "mandb," you ensure that the manual page database is up to date with any recent changes or new additions to the manual pages on your system. This way, when you use the "man" command to view a manual page, it can quickly find and display the requested information.