PGREP(1) Linux User's Manual PGREP(1)
NAME
pgrep, pkill - look up or signal processes based on name and other attributes
SYNOPSIS
pgrep [-flvx] [-d delimiter] [-n|-o] [-P ppid,...] [-g pgrp,...]
[-s sid,...] [-u euid,...] [-U uid,...] [-G gid,...]
[-t term,...] [pattern]
pkill [-signal] [-fvx] [-n|-o] [-P ppid,...] [-g pgrp,...]
[-s sid,...] [-u euid,...] [-U uid,...] [-G gid,...]
[-t term,...] [pattern]
DESCRIPTION
pgrep looks through the currently running processes and lists the process IDs which
matches the selection criteria to stdout. All the criteria have to match. For example,
pgrep -u root sshd
will only list the processes called sshd AND owned by root. On the other hand,
pgrep -u root,daemon
will list the processes owned by root OR daemon.
pkill will send the specified signal (by default SIGTERM) to each process instead of list-
ing them on stdout.
OPTIONS
-d delimiter
Sets the string used to delimit each process ID in the output (by default a new-
line). (pgrep only.)
-f The pattern is normally only matched against the process name. When -f is set, the
full command line is used.
-g pgrp,...
Only match processes in the process group IDs listed. Process group 0 is trans-
lated into pgrep's or pkill's own process group.
-G gid,...
Only match processes whose real group ID is listed. Either the numerical or sym-
bolical value may be used.
-l List the process name as well as the process ID. (pgrep only.)
-n Select only the newest (most recently started) of the matching processes.
-o Select only the oldest (least recently started) of the matching processes.
-P ppid,...
Only match processes whose parent process ID is listed.
-s sid,...
Only match processes whose process session ID is listed. Session ID 0 is trans-
lated into pgrep's or pkill's own session ID.
-t term,...
Only match processes whose controlling terminal is listed. The terminal name
should be specified without the "/dev/" prefix.
-u euid,...
Only match processes whose effective user ID is listed. Either the numerical or
symbolical value may be used.
-U uid,...
Only match processes whose real user ID is listed. Either the numerical or symbol-
ical value may be used.
-v Negates the matching.
-x Only match processes whose name (or command line if -f is specified) exactly match
the pattern.
-signal
Defines the signal to send to each matched process. Either the numeric or the sym-
bolic signal name can be used. (pkill only.)
OPERANDS
pattern
Specifies an Extended Regular Expression for matching against the process names or
command lines.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Find the process ID of the named daemon:
unix$ pgrep -u root named
Example 2: Make syslog reread its configuration file:
unix$ pkill -HUP syslogd
Example 3: Give detailed information on all xterm processes:
unix$ ps -fp $(pgrep -d, -x xterm)
Example 4: Make all netscape processes run nicer:
unix$ renice +4 'pgrep netscape'
EXIT STATUS
0 One or more processes matched the criteria.
1 No processes matched.
2 Syntax error in the command line.
3 Fatal error: out of memory etc.
NOTES
The process name used for matching is limited to the 15 characters present in the output
of /proc/pid/stat. Use the -f option to match against the complete command line,
/proc/pid/cmdline.
The running pgrep or pkill process will never report itself as a match.
BUGS
The options -n and -o and -v can not be combined. Let me know if you need to do this.
Defunct processes are reported.
SEE ALSO
ps(1) regex(7) signal(7) killall(1) skill(1) kill(1) kill(2)
STANDARDS
pkill and pgrep were introduced in Sun's Solaris 7. This implementation is fully compati-
ble.
AUTHOR
Kjetil Torgrim Homme <>
Albert Cahalan <> is the current maintainer of the procps package.
Please send bug reports to <>
Linux June 25, 2000 PGREP(1)
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