killall Linux Command Guide

The Linux killall command is used to terminate processes by name, allowing for the quick and efficient termination of multiple processes at once. This command can be helpful in situations where specific processes need to be stopped without knowing their exact PIDs. By specifying the name of the process to be terminated, killall can help streamline the process management on a Linux system.

killall Syntax:

killall [options] [process name]

Options:

Option	Description
-e	Show the argument list of the processes killed.
-g	Only match processes in the process group.
-i	Ignore case distinctions in process names.
-q	Be quiet; only report errors.
-s	Send a specified signal.
-v	Report if the signal is successfully sent.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
process name	Specify the name of the process to kill.

Caution

Exercise caution while using the killall command, as it sends signals to processes and terminates them abruptly. Make sure to double-check the process name before running the command to avoid unintended consequences.

killall Command Samples:

Kill all instances of a specific process

killall firefox

This command will terminate all running instances of the Firefox browser.

Forcefully kill all instances of a process by name

killall -9 chrome

The -9 option sends a SIGKILL signal to forcefully terminate all instances of the Chrome browser.

Kill all instances of a specific user’s processes

killall -u username

This command will terminate all processes belonging to the user “username”.

Kill all instances of a process by process ID

killall -p 1234

This command will terminate the process with the ID 1234.

Kill all instances of a process group

killall -g groupname

Terminates all processes that belong to the process group named “groupname”.

Quietly kill all instances of a process by name

killall -q processname

This command will suppress the error messages that may occur while terminating all instances of the specified process.

Kill all instances of a process except for a specified one

killall -e processname

This command will terminate all instances of the specified process except for the one that initiated the killall command.

Tip

Remember that the killall command will terminate all processes with a matching name. Make sure you use it with caution to avoid accidentally stopping essential processes.

killall FAQ:

How do I use killall in Linux?

To use the killall command in Linux, execute the following command:

killall --signal <signal> <process_name>

What is the purpose of killall in Linux?

The killall command is used in Linux to terminate processes by name.

How can I force kill processes with killall?

To force kill processes with killall, use the -9 or --signal 9 option.

killall -9 <process_name>

Can killall kill multiple processes at once?

Yes, killall can terminate multiple processes at once by specifying the process names separated by spaces.

killall <process_name1> <process_name2>

How do I selectively kill processes by user with killall?

To selectively kill processes by a specific user with killall, use the -u or --user option followed by the username.

killall --user <username> <process_name>

Is there a way to quiet killall output?

Yes, you can suppress the output of killall by using the -q or --quiet option.

killall --quiet <process_name>

Applications of the killall command

• Killing a process by name
• Sending a signal to multiple processes by specifying a name
• Terminating all instances of a specific program
• Forcefully stopping multiple processes with the same name