The top command is a powerful tool that provides a quick overview of system performance and resource usage. It’s similar to Task Manager on Windows and Activity Monitor on Mac, displaying CPU usage, memory usage, disk activity, and other critical system information. Unfortunately, by default, top command does not sort processes by CPU usage, which is critical for detecting faulty processes or monitoring resource usage. In this guide, we’ll explain how you can customize top to sort processes by CPU usage so that you can get more meaningful data from this powerful command.
How to Sort Top Command Process by CPU Usage
The most straightforward way to sort processes by CPU usage with the top command is to add the -u flag to the command, like this:
top -u
Adding the -u flag sorts processes by CPU usage, with the most CPU-intensive processes appearing at the top of the list. Check out the example below:
You can also use the -o flag to sort by a specific column, such as processor (cpu), and then use an editor to sort the column. Here’s an example:
top -o cpu
If you don’t prefer using the top command, you can use htop instead. Htop offers more features than top but requires additional installation effort.
Benefits of Sorting Processes by CPU Usage with Top Command
- Provides quick and easy understanding of system performance and resource usage
- Allows you to detect faulty processes or resource-intensive applications
- Helpful for monitoring CPU, memory usage, disk activity, and other important system information
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the top command?
Top is a utility tool that reports on the CPU usage, memory, and other critical system information of the Unix-like operating systems. It provides a convenient command-line alternative to Activity Monitor on Mac and Task Manager on Windows.
How do I sort processes based on memory usage?
You can sort processes based on memory usage by adding the -m flag to the top command like this:
top -m
What is htop?
Htop is an improved version of the top command, offering more features and information than the top command. However, it requires additional installation effort.
Can I use the top command on Windows?
No, the top command is a Unix-like utility tool and does not have a Windows equivalent.
Final Thoughts
The top command is an essential tool for monitoring system performance and resource usage. By sorting processes by CPU usage, you can get a more accurate and useful representation of your system’s health. We hope this guide helps you understand how to sort processes by CPU usage with the top command. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.