output of time command!

Valluvan · 08-21-2003, 06:25 AM

Can anybody explain the output of time command?

For example if I run
$time ls
<directory listing>
real: <time>
user: <time>
system: <time>

I understand that system time is the time spent in kernel mode for this program, user time is the time spent in user mode for this program, but what about real? (Have I understood correctly?)

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Valluvan.

kev82 · 08-21-2003, 06:45 AM

the times returned are for child processes as well as the process you specify, real is the actual amount of time it ran for, you are correct about system and user.