whatis zombie-process
Zombie Process
Also known as: defunct process
A process that has exited but whose parent has not yet collected its exit status, leaving an entry marked Z or <defunct>.
What Is a Zombie Process in Linux?
When a process ends, the kernel keeps a small record so the parent can read its exit code with wait. Until the parent does, the child is a zombie. It uses no CPU or memory beyond a process table slot.
You cannot kill a zombie since it is already dead. Fix or restart the parent; if the parent dies, PID 1 adopts and reaps its children automatically.
Example
ps -eo pid,ppid,stat,cmd | awk '$3 ~ /Z/'Learn more about Zombie Process
- Understanding Linux Processes Every running program on Linux is a process. Understanding process IDs, states, parent-child relationships, signals, and how the kernel schedules work is essential for diagnosing problems and administering any Linux system.