> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.entire.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# why

> Explain the commit, checkpoint, prompt, and session behind a file or line.

Explain the captured context behind a file or line.

```bash theme={null}
entire why FILE[:LINE] [flags]
```

Use `entire why` when you want to jump from a file or specific line to the commit, checkpoint, prompt, and session behind it.

## Flags

| Flag          | Description                                                               |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--line LINE` | Explain a specific line, for example `12`. This is the same as `FILE:12`. |
| `--json`      | Output explanation as JSON                                                |

## Examples

```bash theme={null}
entire why overview.mdx
entire why overview.mdx:12
entire why overview.mdx --line 12
entire why overview.mdx:12 --json
```

## Continue with

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Investigate Why Code Exists" icon="search-code" href="/learn/investigate-why-code-exists">
    Use `entire why` in a full provenance investigation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="checkpoint explain" icon="terminal" href="/cli-reference/checkpoint#checkpoint-explain">
    Inspect the full checkpoint context.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>