How to interpret htop output?

Interpreting the htop output involves understanding its three main sections:

1. Header:

   • Displays system metrics such as CPU usage, memory usage, and swap usage.
   • Each CPU core is typically shown separately, with usage represented as a percentage.

2. Body:

   • Lists all running processes, sorted by default by CPU usage.
   • Each process shows details like PID (Process ID), user, priority, and memory usage.
   • You can change the sorting order by pressing F6 and selecting a different criterion.

3. Footer:

   • Contains keyboard shortcuts for navigation and actions.
   • Common shortcuts include:
     • F1 or ?: Help
     • F2 or S: Setup menu
     • F3 or /: Search for a process
     • F5 or T: Tree view
     • F9 or K: Kill a process
     • F10 or Q: Quit htop

By using the arrow keys, you can navigate through the list of processes and use the shortcuts for various actions.