System and processes
The free command
Shows the available RAM and swap area.
Syntax
free [-h]Most useful options
-hHuman-readable sizes-mIn megabytesCopy-ready examples
$ free -hAvailable memory$ free -mIn megabytesYou can try them in the browser terminal: it does not touch your computer.
Typical mistakes
- The 'available' column is the one that matters, not 'free'.
FAQ
Why does free show so little free memory?
Linux uses free memory as cache; look at 'available'.
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