'less' is a variation of the 'more' utility which can display the contents of a file. Unlike the 'More' command you can scroll back and forth through the file by using the arrow keys on the keyboard, search for keywords and take the file straight into the 'vi' editor to make a change. To do these lets imagine we had a file 'top_tips'
less top_tips
To search press the forward slash '/' and type in the word you are looking for. Press 'N' to move forward through all the instances of that word and <shift>+N to move back.
To edit a file from within 'less' press the letter 'v'. It will load the file into 'vi'. When you quit out of vi you are still viewing the file in 'Less'.