Check Which Application is Using the Maximum Memory in Linux

When working with Linux, it's important to understand how your system is using its resources, including memory. This information can be helpful in identifying performance issues and finding ways to optimize your system. In this blog post, we'll show you how to check which application is using the maximum memory in Linux.

Using the top Command

The top command is a real-time system monitor that provides information about the system's resource usage, including memory usage. When you run the top command, it will display a list of processes, sorted by the highest CPU usage. However, you can sort the processes by memory usage by pressing the m key. The top command will then display a list of processes sorted by memory usage, with the process using the most memory at the top.

To exit the top command, simply press q.

Using the htop Command

The htop command is similar to the top command, but provides a more user-friendly interface and additional features. When you run the htop command, it will display a list of processes, sorted by the highest CPU usage. To sort the processes by memory usage, press the F6 key, then select the MEM% field. The htop command will then display a list of processes sorted by memory usage, with the process using the most memory at the top.

Using the ps Command

The ps command is used to provide information about the current running processes. You can use the following command to sort processes by memory usage:

ps aux --sort=-%mem | head

This command will display a list of processes, sorted by memory usage, with the process using the most memory at the top.

Using the free Command

The free command provides information about the system's memory usage. The following command can be used to display a one-time report of memory usage:

free -h

This command will display information about the total amount of memory available, the amount of memory being used, and the amount of memory available for use.

Using the /proc/meminfo File

The /proc/meminfo file provides information about the system's memory usage. You can use the following command to display the contents of the file:

cat /proc/meminfo

This file provides information about the total amount of memory available, the amount of memory being used, and the amount of memory available for use.

There are several ways to check which application is using the maximum memory in Linux. Whether you use the top, htop, ps, free, or /proc/meminfo command, understanding your system's memory usage can be helpful in identifying performance issues and finding ways to optimize your system.