TOP(1)                                                                                                    User Commands                                                                                                   TOP(1)

NAME
       top - display Linux processes

SYNOPSIS
       top [options]

DESCRIPTION
       The  top  program  provides a dynamic real‐time view of a running system.  It can display system summary information as well as a list of processes or threads currently being managed by the Linux kernel.  The types of
       system summary information shown and the types, order and size of information displayed for processes are all user configurable and that configuration can be made persistent across restarts.

       The program provides a limited interactive interface for process manipulation as well as a much more extensive interface for personal configuration  --  encompassing every aspect of its operation.  And  while  top  is
       referred  to  throughout  this document, you are free to name the program anything you wish.  That new name, possibly an alias, will then be reflected on top’s display and used when reading and writing a configuration
       file.

OVERVIEW
   Documentation
       The remaining Table of Contents

           OVERVIEW
              Operation
              Linux Memory Types
           1. COMMAND-LINE Options
           2. SUMMARY Display
              a. UPTIME and LOAD Averages
              b. TASK and CPU States
              c. MEMORY Usage
           3. FIELDS / Columns Display
              a. DESCRIPTIONS of Fields
              b. MANAGING Fields
           4. INTERACTIVE Commands
              a. GLOBAL Commands
              b. SUMMARY AREA Commands
              c. TASK AREA Commands
                 1. Appearance
                 2. Content
                 3. Size
                 4. Sorting
              d. COLOR Mapping
           5. ALTERNATE-DISPLAY Provisions
              a. WINDOWS Overview
              b. COMMANDS for Windows
              c. SCROLLING a Window
              d. SEARCHING in a Window
              e. FILTERING in a Window
           6. FILES
              a. PERSONAL Configuration File
              b. ADDING INSPECT Entries
              c. SYSTEM Configuration File
              d. SYSTEM Restrictions File
           7. ENVIRONMENT VARIABLE(S)
           8. STUPID TRICKS Sampler
              a. Kernel Magic
              b. Bouncing Windows
              c. The Big Bird Window
              d. The Ol’ Switcheroo
           9. BUGS, 10. SEE Also

   Operation
       When operating top, the two most important keys are the help (h or ?)  key and quit (‘q’) key.  Alternatively, you could simply use the traditional interrupt key (^C) when you’re done.

       When started for the first time, you’ll be presented with these traditional elements on the main top screen: 1) Summary Area; 2) Fields/Columns Header; 3) Task Area.  Each of these will be  explored  in  the  sections
       that follow.  There is also an Input/Message line between the Summary Area and Columns Header which needs no further explanation.

       The  main  top  screen  is  generally  quite  adaptive  to changes in terminal dimensions under X‐Windows.  Other top screens may be less so, especially those with static text.  It ultimately depends, however, on your
       particular window manager and terminal emulator.  There may be occasions when their view of terminal size and current contents differs from top’s view, which is always based on operating system calls.

       Following any re‐size operation, if a top screen is corrupted, appears incomplete or disordered, simply typing something innocuous like a punctuation character or cursor motion key will usually restore it.  In extreme
       cases, the following sequence almost certainly will:
              key/cmd  objective
              ^Z       suspend top
              fg       resume top
              <Left>   force a screen