We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

pstree

Save
May 1, 2024 3 minute read

pstree is a command-line tool that displays a tree view of the running processes on a Linux system. It provides a hierarchical representation of processes, making it easy to visualize the relationships between them.

Understanding pstree

pstree works by traversing the process table, which contains information about all the running processes on the system. It starts with the init process, which is the parent of all other processes, and recursively displays its children and their descendants.

The output of pstree is a tree structure, with each line representing a process. The first column shows the process ID (PID), followed by the command name. The indentation of the line indicates the process's level in the hierarchy.

Using pstree

pstree is a versatile tool that can be used for various purposes, including:

Share

Help others find this page about pstree: by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Reading list

We've selected 13 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in pstree.
Delves into advanced topics in Linux programming, including process management and inter-process communication. It provides in-depth explanations of pstree-related concepts such as process states, signals, and threads.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Linux kernel, including process management and scheduling. It offers a detailed explanation of kernel data structures and algorithms, helping readers understand how processes are managed at the kernel level.
Provides a comprehensive guide to Linux kernel development, including process management and scheduling. It offers a deeper understanding of the internal workings of the Linux kernel and how processes are managed at the kernel level.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Linux system programming, including process creation and management, which are key concepts for understanding pstree. It covers topics such as fork(), exec(), and waitpid(), and includes practical examples to illustrate process relationships.
Focuses on communication, concurrency, and threads in Unix systems, which are essential concepts for understanding how processes interact and communicate. It provides insights into process synchronization, IPC mechanisms, and concurrency management.
Provides a comprehensive guide to Linux administration, including process management and monitoring. It covers topics such as user management, process scheduling, and performance monitoring, providing insights into how to use pstree and other tools for system administration tasks.
Provides a broad overview of operating systems concepts, including process management and scheduling. While it does not cover pstree in detail, it offers a solid foundation for understanding the principles behind process management and their implementation in modern operating systems.
While not directly focused on pstree, this book provides a deep understanding of Linux kernel internals, including process scheduling and resource management. It can help readers gain a holistic view of the system and how processes are managed at the kernel level.
Provides a concise and accessible introduction to operating systems concepts, including process management and scheduling. While it does not cover pstree specifically, it offers a solid foundation for understanding the principles behind process management.
Focuses on shell scripting in UNIX systems, including commands related to process management. It provides practical examples and techniques for using pstree and other commands to automate tasks and manage processes from the command line.
This pocket guide provides a concise overview of Linux commands, including those related to process management. It offers quick reference information on pstree and other commands, making it a handy resource for system administrators and users.
Practical guide to the Linux command line, including commands related to process management. It provides step-by-step instructions and examples for using pstree and other commands to navigate and manage processes.
Table of Contents
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser