About Cisco IOS and Cisco IOS XE Software Documentation
Documentation Conventions
ii
Documentation Conventions
In Cisco IOS documentation, the term router may be used to refer to various Cisco products; for example,
routers, access servers, and switches. These and other networking devices that support Cisco
IOS
software are shown interchangeably in examples and are used only for illustrative purposes. An example
that shows one product does not necessarily mean that other products are not supported.
This section includes the following topics:
• Typographic Conventions, page ii
• Command Syntax Conventions, page ii
• Software Conventions, page iii
• Reader Alert Conventions, page iii
Typographic Conventions
Cisco IOS documentation uses the following typographic conventions:
Command Syntax Conventions
Cisco IOS documentation uses the following command syntax conventions:
Convention Description
^ or Ctrl Both the ^ symbol and Ctrl represent the Control (Ctrl) key on a keyboard. For
example, the key combination ^D or Ctrl-D means that you hold down the
Control key while you press the D key. (Keys are indicated in capital letters but
are not case
sensitive.)
string A string is a nonquoted set of characters shown in italics. For example, when
setting a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) community string to
public, do not use quotation marks around the string; otherwise, the string will
include the quotation marks.
Convention Description
bold Bold text indicates commands and keywords that you enter as shown.
italic Italic text indicates arguments for which you supply values.
[x] Square brackets enclose an optional keyword or argument.
... An ellipsis (three consecutive nonbolded periods without spaces) after a syntax
element indicates that the element can be repeated.
| A vertical line, called a pipe, indicates a choice within a set of keywords
or
arguments.
[x | y] Square brackets enclosing keywords or arguments separated by a pipe indicate an
optional choice.
{x | y} Braces enclosing keywords or arguments separated by a pipe indicate a
required
choice.
[x {y | z}] Braces and a pipe within square brackets indicate a required choice within an
optional element.
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