Which command can be used to monitor real-time system performance?

The command that is most commonly used to monitor real-time system performance is top. This command displays a dynamic, real-time view of running processes on a Linux system, providing vital metrics like CPU usage, memory consumption, and system load. The information is updated continuously, allowing users to watch system performance as it happens.

While other commands can also provide system performance monitoring capabilities, they are not as straightforward for real-time observation as top. For instance, htop is indeed an enhanced version of top, offering a more visually appealing interface and additional features, but it may not be installed by default on all systems. The perf command is more specialized, focusing on performance analysis rather than general real-time monitoring, and the monitor option is not a standard command in Linux.

Thus, top is the most fundamental and widely used command for real-time performance monitoring, allowing users to quickly assess system performance and diagnose issues on the fly.