du Linux Command Guide
The du command in Linux is used to estimate file space usage. It displays the amount of disk space used by files and directories. It is a handy tool for monitoring disk usage and identifying space-consuming files and directories. The du command provides various options to customize the output and is commonly used in shell scripts for disk usage analysis.
du Syntax:
du [options] [files or directories]Options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -a | Display the disk usage of individual files and directories |
| -c | Display a total disk usage at the end of the output |
| -h | Show sizes in human-readable format (e.g., 1K 234M 2G) |
| -s | Display only a total for each argument |
| -k | Display sizes in kilobytes |
| -m | Display sizes in megabytes |
| -B | Specify block size for disk usage (default: 1024 bytes) |
Parameters:
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| files or directories | Specify the files or directories for which disk usage should be calculated |
du Command Samples:
Display Disk Usage for a Specific Directory
du /home/user/documentsShows disk usage for the directory “/home/user/documents”.
Display Disk Usage in Human-Readable Format
du -h /var/logDisplays disk usage in a human-readable format for the directory “/var/log”.
Display Total Disk Usage of Files in a Directory
du -s /var/www/htmlShows the total disk usage of files in the directory “/var/www/html”.
Display Disk Usage for All Files and Directories
du -a /usr/localShows disk usage for all files and directories under “/usr/local”.
Sort and Display Disk Usage Summary
du -s * | sort -nSorts and displays disk usage summary for the current directory.
Display Disk Usage of Only Subdirectories
du -d 1 /optShows disk usage for only the immediate subdirectories of “/opt”.
Display Disk Usage Summary Excluding Files
du -c --exclude=*.log /var/www/htmlDisplays disk usage summary while excluding all files with “.log” extension in “/var/www/html”.
du FAQ:
How can I display disk usage in a more human-readable format with du?
To display disk usage in a more human-readable format using du, add the -h flag to the command:
du -hHow can I display the total disk usage of a specific directory with du?
To display the total disk usage of a specific directory using du, execute the command with the directory path as an argument, like this:
du /path/to/directoryHow can I list disk usage for subdirectories with du in Linux?
To list disk usage for subdirectories using du in Linux, use the -d flag followed by the desired depth level. For example, to list disk usage up to 2 levels deep, use:
du -d 2How can I sort the output of du by disk usage size in Linux?
To sort the output of du by disk usage size in Linux, combine the du command with the sort command and use the -n flag to sort numerically. Here’s an example:
du | sort -nHow can I exclude specific directories or files from du command output?
To exclude specific directories or files from du command output, use the --exclude flag followed by the directory or file you want to exclude. For example, to exclude a directory named “exclude_me”, use:
du --exclude=exclude_meHow can I limit the depth of subdirectory levels to show with du in Linux?
To limit the depth of subdirectory levels shown with du in Linux, combine the -max-depth flag with the desired depth level. For example, to limit to show only the top-level directories, use:
du --max-depth=1Applications of the du command
- Checking disk usage of files and directories
- Finding the size of a specific file or directory
- Identifying large files or directories that are consuming disk space
- Analyzing disk usage to free up space
- Monitoring changes in disk usage over time
- Generating reports on disk usage for further analysis