How to Browse the Internet Using the Terminal in Linux

Last Updated: April 7, 2019

Have you ever wondered how to view web pages in a command line in Linux? Start with step one to learn how to do it, using two different tools.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using W3M

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{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-1.jpg\/aid7571288-v4-728px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-2.jpg\/aid7571288-v4-728px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Now wait; it's just a matter of 3 MBs.

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{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/db\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-3.jpg\/aid7571288-v4-728px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Whenever you want to open a web page, go to the terminal and type w3m wikihow.com , with your destination URL in the place of wikihow.com as needed.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/91\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-4.jpg\/aid7571288-v4-728px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4
Navigate around the site.
- Use ⇧ Shift + U to open a new web page.
- Use ⇧ Shift + B to go back to the previous page.
- Use ⇧ Shift + T to open a new tab.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Links2

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{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-6.jpg\/aid7571288-v4-728px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f8\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f8\/Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-7.jpg\/aid7571288-v4-728px-Browse-the-Internet-Using-the-Terminal-in-Linux-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

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Use XTerm instead of the normal gnome terminal while working with W3M so that all the images appear perfectly.

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There are many other terminal browsers you may like to try, like: elinks, lynx and retawlk. Note that it's only a difference of tastes and it's up to you to what one you pick.

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How to Browse the Internet Using the Terminal in Linux

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Using W3M

Using Links2

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