In this article, we will explore the concept of system processes and their significance in macOS. Understanding system processes is crucial for macOS users as it helps in managing and optimizing system resources, troubleshooting issues, and improving overall system performance. While the basic principles of system processes apply universally, we will focus on how they are implemented and managed in macOS.

Examples:

1. Listing Running Processes: To view the list of running processes in macOS, open the Terminal application and use the following command:

$ ps -e

This command will display a list of all processes currently running on your macOS system, along with their process IDs (PIDs) and other relevant information.

2. Killing a Process: If you encounter a misbehaving or unresponsive process, you can terminate it using the kill command. First, identify the PID of the process you want to terminate using the ps command mentioned earlier. Then, use the following command to kill the process:

$ kill PID

Replace PID with the actual process ID.

3. Monitoring System Activity: The Activity Monitor application in macOS provides a graphical interface to monitor system processes, resource usage, and other system-related information. You can access it by searching for "Activity Monitor" in Spotlight or navigating to "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Activity Monitor" in Finder.