Command line options are "dash-prefixed" strings that allow a program (or command within a program) to run in some pre-defined mode or configuration. The syntax used to summarize a group of options is as follows...

Using "[-c:dr:s:]" as an example, the opening and closing brackets indicate that the options are not required. Within the brackets the dash simply indicates that each new option specified on the command line must be prefixed with a dash.

Finally, each letter indicates an option header. If the letter is followed by a colon, then the option requires some argument. So, in the above case, options "c,r & s" require additional information, and option "d' is standalone.

Note: if for some reason your command argument starts with a dash, but its not supposed to be an option, then use a double-dash ("--") to terminate the command line option processing for your token list.