$free
Display total amount of free and used physical memory and swap.
free [OPTIONS]Try `free` Live in Interactive Sandbox
Zero-install client simulation with real-time feedback.
Overview & How free Works
`free` provides an instant summary of system RAM and Swap memory utilization. It reports total, used, free, shared, buffer/cache, and available memory.
Common Flags & Command Options
| Flag / Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -h, --human | Show memory values in human-readable units (e.g., 8Gi, 512Mi). |
| -m, --mega | Display amounts in megabytes. |
| -g, --giga | Display amounts in gigabytes. |
Practical Real-World Examples
free -hPrints RAM and swap memory in GB and MB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Linux report low free memory when my system is running fine?
Linux uses spare RAM for caching disk files (buff/cache) to boost performance. If applications need memory, the kernel automatically frees the cache instantly. Look at the `available` column for true free capacity.
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