MacOS du command

The MacOS du command is a powerful tool for analyzing disk usage on your system. By displaying the size of directories and files, you can identify storage-hungry items and manage your disk space effectively. With various options to customize the output format, you can delve deep into specific directories or exclude certain files from the analysis. By understanding the disk usage distribution, you can optimize storage capacity and improve system performance.

du Syntax:

du [option] [parameter]

Options:

Option	Description
-d, —max-depth	Limit the output to a specific depth
-h, —human-readable	Print sizes in human readable format
-s, —summarize	Display only a total for each argument

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
directory	Specify the directory to analyze

du Usage:

List Sizes of Files and Directories in the Current Directory

du -sh *

Displays the total sizes of files and directories in the current directory.

Display Sizes of Files and Directories with Human-readable Format

du -h

Displays sizes of files and directories in a human-readable format.

List Sizes of Files and Directories Sorted by Size

du -sh * | sort -h

Lists the sizes of files and directories sorted by size.

Show Sizes of Files and Directories in a Specific Directory

du -h /path/to/directory

Displays sizes of files and directories in a specific directory.

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Applications of the du command

Checking disk usage of directories and files
Identifying large files or directories
Monitoring disk usage to prevent running out of disk space
Analyzing disk usage to free up storage
Verifying if certain files or directories are taking up too much space