Skip to main content

Lynx

lynx is a text-based web browser that allows users to browse the internet and view web pages from the command line in Unix-like operating systems. It's a versatile tool for accessing information from websites without requiring a graphical user interface. While it doesn't render images or complex layouts like modern graphical browsers, it's useful for quick access to text-based content, checking links, and accessing web resources in a terminal environment.

Basic Usage​

lynx [options] [URL]

Common Options​

  • -accept_all_cookies: Automatically accept all cookies.
  • -cookies: Enable cookie support.
  • -force_html: Treat non-HTML files as HTML.
  • -nolist: Disable display of HTML lists.
  • -dump: Output page content as plain text.
  • -source: View page source.
  • -bookmark: Create bookmarks.
  • -auth: Provide HTTP authentication credentials.
  • -help or --help: Display help information.

Examples​

  1. Viewing a Web Page:

    lynx https://www.example.com

    This opens the example.com website in lynx.

  2. Viewing Page Source:

    lynx -source https://www.example.com

    This displays the HTML source code of the example.com website.

  3. Browsing with Navigation:

    • Use arrow keys to navigate.
    • Press Enter to follow links.
    • Press Q to quit lynx.

  4. Viewing Plain Text Version:

    lynx -dump https://www.example.com

    This outputs the text-based content of the example.com website.

  5. Creating Bookmarks:

    lynx -bookmark https://www.example.com

    This opens the example.com website and allows you to add a bookmark.

  6. Accepting All Cookies:

    lynx -accept_all_cookies https://www.example.com

    This opens the website and automatically accepts all cookies.

Advanced Usage​

  • lynx supports navigation through forms, submitting data, viewing images with external viewers, and more.
  • lynx.cfg is the configuration file that controls lynx behavior. It can be customized to alter settings.

Use Cases​

  • Quick access to text-based content without a graphical browser.
  • Checking website links for validity.
  • Reading articles or documentation from the command line.
  • Accessing web resources on servers without GUI interfaces.

Limitations​

  • lynx doesn't render modern web page layouts, CSS styles, or JavaScript functionality.
  • It's most effective for browsing text-heavy websites.

Conclusion​

lynx is particularly useful for users who prefer the command line or those working on remote servers. While it lacks the visual sophistication of graphical browsers, it's a lightweight and efficient way to access information from the web.


✅ Resources​