# axx explain

> Show which step definition a line matches, or what an error code means

Source: https://axx.nimbusxr.us/references/cli/axx-explain/

Explain how Axx reads a step line: the matching definition and captured
arguments, the candidates if it is ambiguous, or the closest steps if it is
undefined. The leading Gherkin keyword is optional.

Given an error code such as AXX-E0102, print what it means and how to fix it.

Exit code 0 means the line matches exactly one step, 3 means it is undefined or
ambiguous.

```text
Usage:
  axx explain "<step line>" | AXX-Exxxx [flags]

Flags:
  -D, --define stringArray   set a property for ${sys:name}, e.g. -D local.host=docker
  -h, --help                 help for explain
      --profile string       apply profiles.<name> / axx.<name>.yaml (env: AXX_PROFILE)

Global Flags:
      --compact         print only what matters (auto-enabled for coding agents)
  -c, --config string   path to axx.yaml (default: search upward from the working directory)
      --json            emit machine-readable JSON (stable envelope)
      --no-color        disable colored output
  -v, --verbose count   increase log verbosity (-v, -vv)
```