top Command Examples in Linux¶
Introduction¶
These examples show practical ways to use top on a Linux terminal. Each example is written so you can adapt it for administration or troubleshooting.
Example 1: Basic Usage¶
top
This is the simplest form of the command and is a good starting point before adding options.
Example 2: Common Admin Task¶
top -o %CPU
This example reflects a common task on RHEL, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, or similar systems.
Example 3: Useful Option¶
top -u apache
This option helps narrow the result, change behavior, or handle a more realistic target.
Example 4: Real-World Scenario¶
top -b -n 1 | head
Use this pattern when the task moves beyond a single basic command.
Example 5: Verification¶
uptime
Example output:
10:00:00 up 5 days, 2:13, 2 users, load average: 0.22, 0.31, 0.28
Common Mistakes¶
- Killing a process based on one short CPU spike.
- Reading load average without considering CPU count.
- Ignoring memory pressure and focusing only on CPU.
Quick Reference¶
top
top -o %CPU
top -u apache
top -b -n 1 | head
uptime
Related Guides¶
Summary¶
Good top usage means choosing the right option, keeping the target clear, and verifying the result with output you can explain.