10 Interactive Commands In Linux You Can Use While Running Top

Linux users know the importance of the top command. top essentially is used to deliver your processor activity in real-time, listing the most CPU-intensive tasks on your system. Further, it lends users an interactive interface wherein you can manipulate these processes. However, that's not all it can do. A number of single-key commands can be used while the top command is running so as to a lot of other things.

1.space

Update display immediately

2.^L

Erase and redraw the display

3.k

Kill process

For normal kill: PID of the task > signal 15

For abrupt kill: PID of the task > signal 9

4.i

Toggle to ignore idle/zombie processes

5.q

Quit a process

6.m

Display memory information

7.c

Display command name/full command line

8.N

Numerically sort tasks by pid

9.W

Write current setup (~/.toprc)

10.S

Toggles cumulative mode