---
name: "getloadavg"
section: "3"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/getloadavg"
---

# getloadavg(3)

get system load averages

## NAME

**getloadavg** – get system load averages

## LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<stdlib.h\>**

*int*\

**getloadavg**(*double loadavg\[\]*, *int nelem*);

## DESCRIPTION

The **getloadavg**() function returns the number of processes in the system run queue averaged over various periods of time. Up to *nelem* samples are retrieved and assigned to successive elements of *loadavg*\[\]. The system imposes a maximum of 3 samples, representing averages over the last 1, 5, and 15 minutes, respectively.

## DIAGNOSTICS

If the load average was unobtainable, -1 is returned; otherwise, the number of samples actually retrieved is returned.

## SEE ALSO

[uptime(1)](/uptime/1.md), [kvm\_getloadavg(3)](/kvm_getloadavg/3.md), [sysctl(3)](/sysctl/3.md)

## HISTORY

The **getloadavg**() function appeared in 4.3BSD-Reno.