How can you view running processes along with their Process ID (PID)?

Using the command ps is a fundamental way to view running processes along with their Process IDs (PIDs). When you execute this command in a terminal, it provides a snapshot of the current processes, displaying essential details such as the PID, terminal associated, CPU and memory usage, and the command that started each process. This command can be modified with various options to filter the output or to display all processes on the system, making it very versatile for monitoring processes.

For example, running ps aux shows all running processes for all users, along with detailed information. The simplicity and utility of ps make it a primary tool for system administrators and users to keep track of their system’s processes and manage them effectively.

In contrast, while commands like top and htop also provide information on running processes, they do so in a dynamic, continuously updated format. The jobs command, on the other hand, specifically lists the jobs that are running in the current shell session, which may not include processes from other users or system processes. Therefore, ps consistently stands out for its straightforward purpose of displaying process information along with their PIDs.