How to Sort Processes by Virtual Memory in Ubuntu

Managing system resources on Ubuntu requires identifying which applications consume the most space. This article provides a quick overview of how to sort active processes by their virtual memory usage using built-in terminal tools. You will learn specific commands to monitor memory consumption and identify heavy processes immediately.

Using the top Command

The top utility provides a dynamic real-time view of running processes. To sort by virtual memory:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Type top and press Enter.
3. Once the interface loads, press Shift + V on your keyboard.
4. The list will reorder to show processes with the highest VIRT values at the top.

Using the ps Command

For a static snapshot sorted by virtual memory, use the ps command. Run the following command in your terminal:

ps aux --sort=-vsz

This lists all processes sorted by virtual set size (vsz) in descending order. The - symbol ensures the largest consumers appear first. You can also limit the output to specific columns for clarity:

ps -eo pid,comm,vsize --sort=-vsize