lsof ☆
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Description:
Utility to list open files
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: System utilities
Tags: system-utility debugging file-system process-monitoring cli
Install: brew install lsof
About:
Lsof (List Open Files) is a powerful command-line utility that provides detailed information about files opened by running processes. It is essential for system administrators and developers to diagnose file descriptor leaks, identify which processes are holding locks, and troubleshoot I/O issues. Its cross-platform nature makes it a versatile tool for inspecting system-level activity.
Key Features:
  • Lists files opened by specific processes or all running processes
  • Supports filtering by user, network connection, or process ID
  • Provides detailed information including file type, size, and lock status
  • Works on Unix, Linux, macOS, and BSD systems
Use Cases:
  • Identifying which process is using a specific port or file
  • Debugging 'file in use' errors during application deployment
  • Monitoring file I/O activity for performance analysis
Alternatives:
  • fuser – Simpler tool, primarily identifies processes using files/sockets but provides less detail than lsof
  • procfs – Linux-specific method to inspect open files via /proc filesystem, requires manual parsing
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Nov 18, 2024 3:44am 0 VERSION_BUMP 4c4c02b6
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