% whatis /usr/bin/* | grep "search string"This will return the description of every command in that path and then filter it with your search string. This is a quick way to find a way of doing something, if you don't know all the commands. For example:
% whatis /usr/bin/* | grep "memory"These example results were trimmed for width, but you get the idea...
leaks(1) - Search a process's memory for...
vm_stat(1) - show Mach virtual memory statistics
vmmap(1) - Display the virtual memory regions...
[Editor's note: You can use this syntax to find anything on any path, of course. If you're just interested in user commands, you could also use man -k "search string" | grep \(1 to return the same results a bit faster. The 'whatis' version of the command will also only work if you have built the whatis databases - see this hint for more about the 'whatis' database.]

