What does the ps command do in Linux?

The ps command in Linux is primarily used to display currently running processes on the system. When executed, it shows essential information about each active process, including the process ID (PID), the terminal associated with the process, CPU and memory usage, and the command that started the process. This information is crucial for system monitoring and management, as it allows administrators and users to understand what processes are running, identify resource-intensive processes, and troubleshoot issues.

The ability to see active processes is essential for effective system administration, as it facilitates actions such as terminating unresponsive tasks or analyzing resource consumption on the system. In contrast to the other choices, which pertain to different functionalities — scheduling tasks, checking disk usage, or managing user sessions — the ps command specifically focuses on process management and provides a snapshot of the state of the system in real-time.