# Ad‑hoc Commands

**Problem** – “I need to run a quick check or command on a host without writing a full playbook.”

**Solution** – Use the `ansible` command with the `-m` (module) option.

| Use‑case | Command | What it does |
|----------|---------|--------------|
| Ping a host | `ansible host1 -m ping` | Verifies connectivity. |
| List services | `ansible host1 -m shell -a 'systemctl list-units --type=service'` | Executes a shell command. |
| Gather facts | `ansible all -m setup` | Collects system information. |
| Run playbook file only | `ansible-playbook site.yml` | Executes the full playbook. |

**Example – Quick package check**

```bash
ansible web2 -m yum -a "name=nginx state=latest"
```

> **Tip** – Add `-vv` for verbose output to see command execution details.