IRQTOP(1) User Commands IRQTOP(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

irqtop - display kernel interrupt information

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**irqtop** \[options]

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Display interrupt-counter information from the kernel in the style of [**top**(1)](/man/os/util-linux/top.1).

The default output is subject to change. So whenever possible, you should avoid using default outputs in your scripts. Always explicitly define expected columns by using **--output**.

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

**-o**, **--output** *list*

Specify which output columns to print. Use **--help** to get a list of all supported columns. The default list of columns may be extended if *list* is specified in the format *+list*.

**-b**, **--batch**

Send the produced tables to stdout instead of to a static screen. This can be used for sending the output to other programs or to a file.

**-c**, **--cpu-stat** *when*

Whether to show the per-CPU statistics. Possible arguments are: **auto**, **never**, **always**. The default is **auto**: the per-CPU statistics are shown when the window is wide enough for the full list of CPUs.

**-C**, **--cpu-list** *list*

Specify cpus in list format to show.

**-d**, **--delay** *seconds*

Update the tables every this number of *seconds*.

**-J**, **--json**

Use JSON output format. Implies **--batch**.

**-n**, **--iter** *number*

Specifies the maximum iterations before quitting.

**-s**, **--sort** *column*

Specify sort criteria by column name. See **--help** output to get column names. The sort criteria may be changes in interactive mode.

**-S**, **--softirq**

Show softirqs information.

**-t**, **--threshold** *min*

Only show IRQs with counters above the specified threshold. Human readable values are supported (e.g. 1.2K).

**-h**, **--help**

Display help text and exit.

**-V**, **--version**

Display version and exit.

# [ENVIRONMENT](#ENVIRONMENT)

**LIBSMARTCOLS\_DEBUG**=all

enables libsmartcols debug output.

**LIBSMARTCOLS\_DEBUG\_PADDING**=on

use visible padding characters.

**LIBSMARTCOLS\_JSON**=compact|lines

Controls JSON output format when using **--json**. Supported values are **compact** for JSON output with minimal whitespace, and **lines** for JSON Lines format (one JSON object per line). If unset or set to any other value, pretty-printed JSON is used.

# [INTERACTIVE MODE KEY COMMANDS](#INTERACTIVE_MODE_KEY_COMMANDS)

**i**

sort by short irq name or number field

**t**

sort by total count of interrupts (the default)

**d**

sort by delta count of interrupts

**n**

sort by long descriptive name field

**q Q**

stop updates and exit program

# [AUTHORS](#AUTHORS)

*Zhenwei Pi* <pizhenwei@bytedance.com>, *Sami Kerola* <kerolasa@iki.fi>, *Karel Zak* <kzak@redhat.com> *Robin Jarry* <robin@jarry.cc>

# [REPORTING BUGS](#REPORTING_BUGS)

For bug reports, use the *issue tracker* <https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/issues>.

# [AVAILABILITY](#AVAILABILITY)

The **irqtop** command is part of the util-linux package which can be downloaded from *Linux Kernel Archive* <https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-linux/>.

2026-10-30 util-linux 2.42.4

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Document: irqtop(1) from util-linux 2.42.4-r2 (Chainguard OS)