--signal

Defines the signal to send to each matched process. Either the numeric or the symbolic signal name canbe used. (pkill only.)

-c

Suppress normal output; instead print a count of matching processes. When count does not match any‐thing, e.g. returns zero, the command will return non-zero value.

-d

Sets the string used to delimit each process ID in the output (by default a newline). (pgrep only.)

-f

The pattern is normally only matched against the process name. When -f is set, the full command lineis used.

-g

Only match processes in the process group IDs listed. Process group 0 is translated into pgrep's orpkill's own process group.

-G

Only match processes whose real group ID is listed. Either the numerical or symbolical value may beused.

-i

Match processes case-insensitively.

-l

List the process name as well as the process ID. (pgrep only.)

-a

List the full command line as well as the process ID. (pgrep only.)

-n

Select only the newest (most recently started) of the matching processes.

-o

Select only the oldest (least recently started) of the matching processes.

-P

Only match processes whose parent process ID is listed.

-s

Only match processes whose process session ID is listed. Session ID 0 is translated into pgrep's orpkill's own session ID.

-t

Only match processes whose controlling terminal is listed. The terminal name should be specified with‐out the "/dev/" prefix.

-u

Only match processes whose effective user ID is listed. Either the numerical or symbolical value maybe used.

-U

Only match processes whose real user ID is listed. Either the numerical or symbolical value may beused.

-v

Negates the matching. This option is usually used in pgrep's context. In pkill's context the shortoption is disabled to avoid accidental usage of the option.

-w

Shows all thread ids instead of pids in pgrep's context. In pkill's context this option is disabled.

-x

Only match processes whose names (or command line if -f is specified) exactly match the pattern.

-F

Read PID's from file. This option is perhaps more useful for pkill than pgrep.

-L

Fail if pidfile (see -F) not locked.

--ns

Match processes that belong to the same namespaces. Required to run as root to match processes fromother users. See --nslist for how to limit which namespaces to match.

--nslist

Match only the provided namespaces. Available namespaces: ipc, mnt, net, pid, user,uts.

-V

Display version information and exit.

-h

Display help and exit.OPERANDSpatternSpecifies an Extended Regular Expression for matching against the process names or command lines.EXAMPLESExample 1: Find the process ID of the named daemon:$ pgrep -u root namedExample 2: Make syslog reread its configuration file:$ pkill -HUP syslogdExample 3: Give detailed information on all xterm processes:$ ps -fp $(pgrep -d, -x xterm)Example 4: Make all netscape processes run nicer:$ renice +4 $(pgrep netscape)EXIT STATUS0 One or more processes matched the criteria.1 No processes matched.2 Syntax error in the command line.3 Fatal error: out of memory etc.NOTESThe process name used for matching is limited to the 15 characters present in the output of /proc/pid/stat.Use the -f option to match against the complete command line, /proc/pid/cmdline.The running pgrep or pkill process will never report itself as a match.BUGSThe options -n and -o and -v can not be combined. Let me know if you need to do this.Defunct processes are reported.