du Command Examples in Linux¶

Introduction¶

These examples show practical ways to use du on a Linux terminal. Each example is written so you can adapt it for administration or troubleshooting.

Example 1: Basic Usage¶

du -sh /var/log

This is the simplest form of the command and is a good starting point before adding options.

Example 2: Common Admin Task¶

du -h --max-depth=1 /var

This example reflects a common task on RHEL, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, or similar systems.

Example 3: Useful Option¶

du -ah /var/log | sort -h

This option helps narrow the result, change behavior, or handle a more realistic target.

Example 4: Real-World Scenario¶

sudo du -xhd1 / | sort -h

Use this pattern when the task moves beyond a single basic command.

Example 5: Verification¶

df -h /var

Example output:

1.4G    /var/log

Common Mistakes¶

• Running du across huge trees without limiting depth.
• Comparing du and df without considering deleted open files.
• Forgetting -x when you want to stay on one filesystem.

Quick Reference¶

du -sh /var/log
du -h --max-depth=1 /var
du -ah /var/log | sort -h
sudo du -xhd1 / | sort -h
df -h /var

Related Guides¶

• What is du?
• du -sh explained
• du Find Large Directories
• du interview questions

Summary¶

Good du usage means choosing the right option, keeping the target clear, and verifying the result with output you can explain.