---
layout: page
title: proc by
description: "Filter processes by name."
permalink: /commands/by
---
Find processes by name. Alias: `b`.
```bash
proc by node # processes named node
proc by node --cmd # ... or with node anywhere in their command line
proc by python --in . # python in current directory
proc by node --min-cpu 5 # node using >5% CPU
```
`by` takes one name, matched against the whole process name (also the file name of its executable and of its first argument, so a long name Linux cuts to 15 characters still matches), ignoring case. On Windows a trailing `.exe` is optional. `--cmd` matches any part of the name or the full command line instead, like `pkill -f`. A path is not a name: `proc by ./server` finds nothing, so use `--cmd`, or [`proc for <file>`](for) for an executable. For several names, use `proc list node python`. The table includes uptime on terminals at least 100 columns wide; `--verbose` and `--json` always include it.
## Options
| Flag | Short | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| `--cmd` | | Match the name as a substring of the process name or full command line (like `pkill -f`) |
| `--in [<dir>]` | `-i` | Filter by directory. Takes the next word as its directory unless it starts with `-` (bare `--in` is the current directory, `--in=DIR` is explicit) |
| `--min-cpu <n>` | | Minimum CPU % |
| `--min-mem <n>` | | Minimum memory (MB) |
| `--status <s>` | | Filter by status: running, sleeping, stopped, zombie |
| `--min-uptime <s>` | | Minimum uptime in seconds |
| `--parent <pid>` | | Only children of this parent PID |
| `--sort <key>` | `-s` | Sort by: cpu, mem (biggest first); pid, name (ascending). Ties come by PID (default: cpu) |
| `--limit <n>` | `-n` | Limit results |
| `--json` | `-j` | Output as JSON |
| `--verbose` | `-v` | Show command line, cwd, parent PID, uptime |
| `--wide` | `-w` | Print full directories and arguments instead of fitting the terminal |
## Examples
```bash
# node processes in current project
proc by node --in .
# high-memory python processes
proc by python --min-mem 500
# sleeping processes named worker
proc by worker --status sleeping
# top 5 node processes by memory
proc by node --sort mem --limit 5
```
## See also
[in](in) to start from a directory, [list](list) for all processes.