top

Purpose

List currently running processes, arranged in order by their share of CPU time.

Syntax

top [q] [d delay]

Options

q causes top to run with the highest possible priority (you have to be root).

d delay specifies the delay between updates, in seconds.

Description

The top command produces a full-text screen with the processes arranged according to their share of the CPU time. By default, top updates the display every five seconds. Press q or Ctrl-C to quit top.