Linux "xkill" Command Line Options and Examples

kill a client by its X resource

Xkill is a utility for forcing the X server to close connections to clients. This program is very dangerous, but is useful for aborting programs that have displayed undesired windows on a user's screen. If no resource identifier is given with -id, xkill will display a special cursor as a prompt for the user to select a window to be killed.

Usage:

xkill [-display displayname] [-id resource] [-button number] [-frame] [-all] [-version]

Command Line Options:

-display

This option specifies the name of the X server to contact.


                            xkill -display ...

-id

This option specifies the X identifier for the resource whose creator is to be aborted. If noresource is specified, xkill will display a special cursor with which you should select a window to bekill.


                            xkill -id ...

-button

This option specifies the number of pointer button that should be used in selecting a window to kill.If the word "any" is specified, any button on the pointer may be used. By default, the first buttonin the pointer map (which is usually the leftmost button) is used.


                            xkill -button ...

-version

This option makes xkill print its version and exit without killing anything.CAVEATSThis command does not provide any warranty that the application whose connection to the X server is closedwill abort nicely, or even abort at all. All this command does is to close the connection to the X server.Many existing applications do indeed abort when their connection to the X server is closed, but some canchoose to continue.XDEFAULTSButton Specifies a specific pointer button number or the word "any" to use when selecting windows.


                            xkill -version ...