visudo:tldr:1d8db

The command "sudo visudo -c" is used to check the syntax of the sudoers file (/etc/sudoers) without saving any changes made.

Here is the breakdown of the command:

• "sudo" is a command that allows a user to run programs with the security privileges of another user, usually the root or superuser.
• "visudo" is a command-line utility for editing the sudoers file, which determines who can run what commands as what users on the system.
• "-c" is an option/flag that instructs visudo to check the syntax of the sudoers file without saving any changes made. It ensures that the modifications to the file do not contain any errors that could potentially make the system insecure.

By running "sudo visudo -c", the system administrator or a user with sudo privileges can verify that any changes made to the sudoers file are valid and error-free before applying them permanently. This command helps prevent mistakes or misconfigurations that could lock users out or create security vulnerabilities.