Which command is used to view the contents of a file in a paginated format?

• A. less
• B. more
• C. cat
• D. head

Answer: (A)

The command used to view the contents of a file in a paginated format is "less." This command allows users to scroll through the content of a file one screen at a time, making it particularly useful for reading long files. It enables forward and backward navigation, allowing users to view any part of the file without the need to reload it.

While "more" is similar and also used for paginated viewing, "less" offers more functionality, such as backward scrolling and searching within the file. Commands like "cat" are intended for displaying the entire content of a file at once and do not provide pagination. Similarly, "head" is used specifically to view the first few lines of a file, lacking the capability to display the contents in a scrollable, paginated manner. Thus, "less" is the preferred choice for the intended task of viewing contents in a paginated format.