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Some man implementations would call roff in a way that those sequences are not used (or internally call col -b -p -x to strip them like in the case of the man-db implementation (unless the MAN_KEEP_FORMATTING environment variable is set as noted by @Kusalananda)), and don't invoke a pager when they detect the output is not going to a terminal (so man bash | grep NAME would work there), but not yours.

Some man implementations would call roff in a way that those sequences are not used (or internally call col -b -p -x to strip them like in the case of the man-db implementation (unless the MAN_KEEP_FORMATTING environment variable is set)), and don't invoke a pager when they detect the output is not going to a terminal (so man bash | grep NAME would work there), but not yours.

That is, each character is written as X Backspace X. On modern terminals, the character ends up being written over itself with no difference. But in ancient tele-typewriters, that would cause the character to appear in bold as it gets twice as much ink.

That is, each character is written as X Backspace X. On modern terminals, the character ends up being written over itself (as Backspace aka BS aka \b aka ^H is the character that moves the cursor one column to the left) with no difference. But in ancient tele-typewriters, that would cause the character to appear in bold as it gets twice as much ink.

Some man implementations would call roff in a way that those sequences are not used (or internally call col -b -p -x like in the case of the man-db implementation (unless the MAN_KEEP_FORMATTING environment variable is set as noted by @Kusalananda)), and don't invoke a pager when they detect the output is not going to a terminal (so man bash | grep NAME would work there), but not yours.

Some man implementations would call roff in a way that those sequences are not used (or internally call col -b -p -x to strip them like in the case of the man-db implementation (unless the MAN_KEEP_FORMATTING environment variable is set as noted by @Kusalananda)), and don't invoke a pager when they detect the output is not going to a terminal (so man bash | grep NAME would work there), but not yours.