The syntax of a command is basically the rules for executing the command. You need to know how to read syntax notation when learning how to use a command so that you can execute it correctly.
Windows Command Line Guide – 1 – Introduction to the Command Prompt
As you've probably seen here on Lifewire and perhaps other sites, Command Prompt commands, DOS commands, and even many Execute commands are described using all sorts of slashes, brackets, italics, etc. Once you know what all those highlights refer to, you can look at the syntax of a command and immediately see what options are required and which options can be used with which other options.
The following syntax key describes how to use each notation in a command syntax. Feel free to refer to it as we work through the three examples below the table.
This is the syntax for the vol command, a command available through the command prompt in all versions of the Windows operating system:
