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What is Linux Time Command?

Published August 11, 2023 in Linux Tutorials Ubuntu

The Linux Time Command is a useful tool for measuring command performance in the Linux operating system. It provides insights into system efficiency and allows users to understand how different tasks affect their system. Whether you’re new to Linux or just looking to understand your computer better, this friendly guide will walk you through what the time command is and how you can use it. It’s a handy little trick to have up your sleeve!

Linux Time Command and Usage

The Linux time command is a tool used in the Linux operating system to measure how long a particular command takes to execute. It’s often used by developers, system administrators, or anyone looking to analyze the performance of a process or a script.

Here’s how it works:

#1 Command Line Usage

The Linux time command is used to determine the duration of a particular command or program’s execution. The basic syntax for the time command is as follows:

time [options] command [arguments]
  • ‘time’: The command itself, used to initiate the time tracking.
  • ‘[options]’: These are optional flags that can modify the behavior of the time command. For example, the -p option can be used to display the output in a portable POSIX format.
  • ‘command‘: The specific command or script you want to measure.
  • ‘[arguments]’: Any arguments or parameters that the specified command might require.

Here’s a basic example using the time command with the ls command:

time ls -l

This will run the ls -l command, which lists files in long format, and then display how long it took to execute.

The time command measures how long a command takes to run. Specific options vary depending on the system and version of time installed. Here are some common options.

-pProduce output in a format that’s compatible with POSIX
-o FILE, –output=FILEDirect the command’s output to a file.
-a, –appendAppend the results to the file instead of overwriting, if used with -o.
-f FORMAT, –format=FORMATDefine a custom format for the output.
–verboseProvide more detailed output.
–quietSuppress the command’s error output.
–portabilitySimilar to -p, for portable output format.
Common Linux time command options.

There are many more placeholders you can use to customize the output. You can find the full list in the time command’s man page, accessible by running:

man time

Here’s a sample output of “man time” command:

man time command that displays general commands manual output.

#2 Syntax Time Command Output

 The output typically consists of three lines showing the real time, user time, and system time.

Syntax Output of time command showing real, user, and system time.
  • Real Time (real). The actual time it took to execute the command, from start to finish.
  • User Time (user). The time the CPU spent on the task itself.
  • System Time (sys). The time the CPU spent on system-level tasks related to the command.

Grasping the Linux Time commands lets you observe how a command functions with the system, identifying possible slowdowns or problems with performance.

The Linux time command serves as a robust instrument for those aiming to comprehend the effectiveness of their programming or the conduct of their system. It offers in-depth awareness of how the computer’s resources are being employed.

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