KILL(1)                    OpenBSD Reference Manual                    KILL(1)

NAME
     kill - terminate or signal a process

SYNOPSIS
     kill [-s signal_name] pid ...
     kill -l [exit_status]
     kill -signal_name pid ...
     kill -signal_number pid ...

DESCRIPTION
     The kill utility sends a signal to the process(es) specified by the pid
     operand(s).  If no signal is specified, SIGTERM is used.

     Only the superuser may send signals to other users' processes.

     The options are as follows:

     -l [exit_status]
             Display the name of the signal corresponding to exit_status.
             exit_status may be the exit status of a command killed by a sig-
             nal (see the special sh(1) parameter `?') or a signal number.

             If no operand is given, display the names of all the signals.

     -s signal_name
             A symbolic signal name specifying the signal to be sent instead
             of the default SIGTERM.

     -signal_name
             A symbolic signal name specifying the signal to be sent instead
             of the default SIGTERM.

     -signal_number
             A non-negative decimal integer specifying the signal to be sent
             instead of the default SIGTERM.

     The following PIDs have special meanings:

           -1      If superuser, broadcast the signal to all processes; other-
                   wise, broadcast to all processes belonging to the user.

           -pgid   Send the signal to all processes within the specified pro-
                   cess group.

     Some of the more commonly used signals:

           1       HUP (hang up)
           2       INT (interrupt)
           3       QUIT (quit)
           6       ABRT (abort)
           9       KILL (non-catchable, non-ignorable kill)
           14      ALRM (alarm clock)
           15      TERM (software termination signal)

     For a more complete list, consult the sigaction(2) manual page.

     A signal number of 0 (kill -0 pid) checks the validity of a certain PID,
     to see if it exists.  An exit code of 0 means that the specified process
     exists.

EXAMPLES
     Forcibly terminate process ID 1234:

           $ kill -9 1234

     Send the inetd(8) daemon the hangup signal, instructing it to re-read its
     configuration from /etc/inetd.conf:

           # kill -HUP `cat /var/run/inetd.pid`

SEE ALSO
     csh(1), ksh(1), pkill(1), ps(1), kill(2), sigaction(2)

STANDARDS
     The kill utility is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (``POSIX'')
     specification.

     kill also exists as a built-in to csh(1) and ksh(1), though with a dif-
     ferent syntax.

HISTORY
     A kill command appeared in Version 3 AT&T UNIX.

OpenBSD 4.7                    February 8, 2009                              2
