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Linux free command

Linux free command

The free command is used to display the amount of free and used memory in the system, including RAM and swap space. It gives a quick overview of how memory is being allocated and utilized.

Basic Syntax

The general syntax of the free command is as follows:

$ free <options>

Example

 

Linux `free` command – Options
Option Description
free Shows memory usage in kilobytes (KB) by default.
free -m Displays output in megabytes (MB).
free -g Displays output in gigabytes (GB).
free -h Shows memory usage in a human-readable format (automatically picks KB, MB, or GB).

Screenshot

 

Linux free Command

 

Explanation of Columns

  • total → Total installed memory (RAM or swap).

  • used → Memory currently in use.

  • free → Memory not being used at all.

  • shared → Memory shared between processes (e.g., tmpfs).

  • buff/cache → Memory used by kernel buffers and cache (can be reclaimed if needed).

  • available → Estimate of how much memory is available for new applications without swapping.

 

Linux Basic Commands

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