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CompTIA Linux+ (Plus): Which Command Displays Real-Time CPU and Memory Usage for Running Processes?

Which command shows real-time CPU and memory usage for running processes in Linux? Learn how the top command provides dynamic, interactive system monitoring—essential for CompTIA Linux+ (Plus) XK0-005 exam success.

Table of Contents

Question

Which command displays real-time CPU and memory usage for running processes?

A. ps aux
B. free -m
C. vmstat
D. top
E. lscpu

Answer

D. top

Explanation

The top command provides a dynamic, real-time view of system processes, including CPU and memory usage, essential for performance monitoring.

The command that displays real-time CPU and memory usage for running processes is top.

The top command provides a continuously updating, real-time view of system resource usage, including CPU and memory consumption for each running process.

When you run top, you see a dynamic list of all active processes, their CPU and memory usage, process IDs, and other key statistics. The display updates every few seconds, allowing you to monitor performance and identify resource-intensive processes as they occur.

top also allows sorting by CPU or memory usage, filtering by user, and managing processes (such as killing or renicing them) directly from its interactive interface.

This tool is essential for system administrators to diagnose performance issues and manage system load in real time.

The top command provides a real-time, interactive display of CPU and memory usage for all running processes, making it the standard tool for live system monitoring in Linux environments.

CompTIA Linux+ (Plus) XK0-005 certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the CompTIA Linux+ (Plus) XK0-005 exam and earn CompTIA Linux+ (Plus) XK0-005 certification.