Understanding and Using the “kill” and “killall” Commands in Linux

In Linux, the “kill” and “killall” commands are used to terminate or signal processes. These commands are crucial tools for managing processes and keeping your system running smoothly.

The “kill” command is used to send a specific signal to a specific process. The signal can be specified by its name or number, and the process is identified by its process ID (PID). For example, to kill the process with PID 1234, the command would be:

To send a specific signal, such as the “SIGTERM” signal, which is the default signal sent by the “kill” command, the command would be:

Alternatively, you can use the signal name instead of the signal number, like this:

The “killall” command is similar to the “kill” command, but it sends a signal to all processes with a specific name. For example, to send the “SIGTERM” signal to all processes named “myprocess”, the command would be:

As with the “kill” command, you can also use the signal name instead of the signal number:

It’s important to note that while the “kill” and “killall” commands are powerful tools, they should be used with caution. Killing the wrong process or using the wrong signal can cause unexpected or undesirable results. Therefore, it is always recommended to use the -9 signal, also known as SIGKILL as a last resort when a process is stuck, refusing to terminate.

In conclusion, the “kill” and “killall” commands are essential tools for managing processes in Linux. They allow you to terminate or signal specific processes or groups of processes. However, it’s crucial to understand the different signals that can be sent and the processes that you are targeting, as misusing these commands can have unintended consequences.

See our list of 75 Linux commands you should know about.