Back to Commands

killall

file managementLinux/Unix
The killall command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. killall Sample fallback description for killall
See ExamplesView Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

killall

Category:

file management

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

killall [options] [arguments]

Common Use Cases

  • 1

    Process termination

    Terminate processes by name

  • 2

    Resource management

    Manage system resources by terminating processes

  • 3

    Scripting

    Use in shell scripts to terminate processes programmatically

  • 4

    Troubleshooting

    Resolve issues with unresponsive or misbehaving processes

Syntax

killall [OPTION]... [FILE]...

Options

Option Description
-l Use a long listing format
-a Show hidden entries starting with .
-h Human-readable sizes
-R List subdirectories recursively

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the killall command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

Basic Examples:

ls
List files in the current directory.
ls -l
List files in long format with details.
ls -a
List all files including hidden ones.

Advanced Examples:

ls -lah Detailed list with human-readable sizes. ls -R List directories recursively.

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

These are sample notes for the killall command.

Tips & Tricks

1

Use the -i option to prompt before sending signals

2

Use the -q option to quietly kill processes

3

Use the -r option to kill processes recursively

4

Use the -s signal option to specify the signal to send

5

Use the -v option to display verbose output

Common Use Cases

Process termination

Terminate processes by name

Resource management

Manage system resources by terminating processes

Scripting

Use in shell scripts to terminate processes programmatically

Troubleshooting

Resolve issues with unresponsive or misbehaving processes

Security

Prevent unauthorized access to system resources

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside killall or serve similar purposes:

kill
pkill
pgrep
ps
top
htop
xkill
fuser
Explore All Commands

Use Cases

1

Process termination

Terminate processes by name

2

Resource management

Manage system resources by terminating processes

3

Scripting

Use in shell scripts to terminate processes programmatically

4

Troubleshooting

Resolve issues with unresponsive or misbehaving processes

5

Security

Prevent unauthorized access to system resources

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the killall command works in different scenarios.

See ExamplesTry Lab Exercises
$ killall
View All Commands