Linux `pkill` Command

In the realm of Linux and Unix-like operating systems, managing processes and ensuring system stability are essential tasks. The pkill command is a powerful tool that provides an efficient way to terminate processes based on their names or other attributes. It simplifies the process of finding and terminating processes, making it a valuable asset for system administrators and power users. In this blog post, we will delve into the pkill command, exploring its syntax, options, features, and practical applications.

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax of the pkill command is straightforward:

bash
pkill options pattern

options: Additional flags that modify the behavior of the pkill command.
pattern: The pattern or process name to search for.

Terminating Processes by Name

To terminate a process by its name, you can use the pkill command followed by the process name. For example, to terminate all instances of a process named "process_name", you would run:

bash
pkill process_name

Signaling Processes

By default, pkill sends the SIGTERM signal to terminate a process gracefully. However, you can specify a different signal using the -signal option followed by the signal name or number. For example, to send the SIGKILL signal to terminate a process immediately and forcefully, you can use:

bash
pkill -9 process_name

Terminate a Process Group

The -g or --group option allows you to terminate a process group. The process group ID is typically the same as the process ID of the parent process.

bash
pkill -g process_group_id

Practical Applications