ps

ps: list the processes.

Synopsis

ps

Description

ps lists every process, one a line, under a header:

PID

The process’s id.

PPID

Its parent’s id.

PGID

Its process group.

STATE

running (it can run), sleeping (blocked in a system call: waiting for input, a child or a timer), or zombie (it has ended and its parent has not waited for it).

COMMAND

The program’s path, then its arguments.

Notes

There are no options; arguments are ignored. There are no users, times or memory figures to show.

See also

kill(1), free(1), uptime(1)