What is

Keyboard commands
~	!		@		#		$		%		^		&		*	(	)	_	=	+
	Q		W		E		R		T		Y		U	I		O	P	{	}	|
	q		w		e		r		t		y		u	i		o	p	[	]	\
		A		S		D		F		G		H		J		K	L	:	"
		a		s		d		f		g		h		j		k	l	;	'
			Z		X		C		V		B		N	M		<	>	?
			z		x		c		v		b		n	m		,	.	/
	q		w		e		r		t				u	i		o	p	Alt
		a		s		d		f						j			l	Alt
							c		v				n	m			?	Alt
		A			C		R		T				O					Alt
a		c			d		o		p		r		t			[		Ctrl

/ is the what is command. It has several functions for providing you with more information about the game. These functions include:

• Activating the far look mechanic to examine things on the map
• Displaying information about what a given ASCII symbol represents
• Displaying the encyclopedia entry for a given symbol or topic

Usage

When you press /, first you will be given an opportunity to far look using cursor select:

Specify unknown object by cursor? [ynq] (q)

• Choosing y will allow you to move to a symbol on the map using the movement keys
• Choosing n will prompt you to input an ASCII character or topic
• Choosing q will abort the command

Cursor select

If you choose to specify an object with the cursor, you will see:

Please move the cursor to an unknown object. (For instructions type a ?)

If you press ? for movement instructions, the following help text is displayed:

Use 'h', 'j', 'k', 'l' to move the cursor to an unknown object.
Use 'H', 'J', 'K', 'L' to fast-move the cursor, 8 units at a time.
Or enter a background symbol (ex. '<').
Use '@' to move the cursor on yourself.
Use 'm' or 'M' to move the cursor to next monster.
Use 'o' or 'O' to move the cursor to next object.
Use 'd' or 'D' to move the cursor to next door or doorway.
Use 'x' or 'X' to move the cursor to unexplored location.
Use 'a' or 'A' to move the cursor to anything interesting.
Use '*' to change fast-move mode to skipping same glyphs.
Use '!' to toggle menu listing for possible targets.
Use '"' to change the mode of limiting possible targets.
Use '#' to toggle automatic description.
Type a '.' or ',' or ';' or ':' when you are at the right place.
  ':' describe current spot, show 'more info', move to another spot.
  '.' describe current spot, move to another spot;
  ',' describe current spot, move to another spot;
  ';' describe current spot, stop looking at things;
Type Space or Escape when you're done.

You can also enter the symbol of a dungeon feature to move the cursor onto it (stairway, altar, closed door, etc). For example, pressing > would jump the cursor to the stairs down, even if the stairs are covered by items.

The keys to move to next/previous monster/object/door and so on cycle through the possible targets by distance, unless you've toggled on the menu listing, in which case a menu with the possible targets is show. The possible targets can further be limited to those in line of sight or in the same area.

ASCII symbol legend

Once you select a square, you will be given a brief description of the symbol there. For example:

+     a spellbook or closed door (closed door)

... or ...

d     a dog or other canine (tame dog called Fido)

If your selection has an encylopedia entry, you will be able to get additional information. In this case you will see:

More info? [yn] (n)

• Choosing y displays the encylopedia information for your selection
• Choosing n lets you select another object with the cursor

Unset the help option to avoid this prompt. You can also get the symbol legend for a character if you choose no to cursor select, and then type a single character. In this case you will not be prompted for more information, because there could be different encyclopedia entries for the things that symbol represents.

Compare selecting a staircase with cursor select:

<     a staircase up or a ladder up (staircase up)
More info? [yn] (n)

... vs. typing < ...

Specify what? (type the word) <
<     a staircase up or a ladder up

Consulting the encyclopedia

Choosing yes when asked for more info, or typing in a complete word or phrase when asked to specify what, will display the encyclopedia entry for that subject. Usually this is a lore reference from a real-world source (which may not be 100% accurate in NetHack), a brief writeup by the devteam, or even a funny quote. If there is nothing in the encylopedia for the phrase you entered, you will be told:

I don't have any information on those things.

The encyclopedia has information about a vast array of subjects. It is possible to be very specific when requesting information. Compare the following examples:

 Specify what? (type the word) fog
 I don't have any information on those things.

 Specify what? (type the word) cloud
 I wandered lonely as a cloud
 That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
 When all at once I saw a crowd,
 A host, of golden daffodils;
 Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
 Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
        [ I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, by William Wordsworth ]

 Specify what? (type the word) fog cloud
 The fog comes
 on little cat feet.
 
 It sits looking
 over harbor and city
 on silent haunches
 and then moves on.
      [ Fog, by Carl Sandburg ]

Strategy

This command can be quite helpful to new players still learning what some of the symbols represent. This is especially true when facing unfamiliar monsters. Cursor select can be used to tell if detected creatures are peaceful. It can also be helpful in verifying that you have acquired detection abilities such as telepathy—this can be used to help identify an amulet of ESP or a ring of warning, for instance.

This page may need to be updated for the current version of NetHack.

It may contain text specific to NetHack 3.4.3. Information on this page may be out of date.

Editors: After reviewing this page and making necessary edits, please change the {{nethack-343}} tag to the current version's tag or {{noversion}} as appropriate.

See Also

Far look ;