---
name: "topsyscall"
section: "1m"
platform: "macos"
package: "dtrace"
version: "413"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/topsyscall"
---

# topsyscall(1m)

top syscalls by syscall name. Uses DTrace.

## NAME

topsyscall - top syscalls by syscall name. Uses DTrace.

## SYNOPSIS

**topsyscall** \[-Cs\] \[interval \[count\]\]

## DESCRIPTION

This program continually prints a report of the top system calls, and refreshes the display every 1 second or as specified at the command line.

Since this uses DTrace, only users with root privileges can run this command.

## OPTIONS

- \-C

  don't clear the screen

- \-s

  print per second values

## EXAMPLES

- Default output, 1 second updates,

  \#  **topsyscall**

- Print every 5 seconds,

  \# **topsyscall** 5

- Print a scrolling output,

  \# **topsyscall** -C

## FIELDS

- load avg

  load averages, see [uptime(1)](/uptime/1.md)

- syscalls

  total syscalls in this interval

- syscalls/s

  syscalls per second

- SYSCALL

  system call name

- COUNT

  total syscalls in this interval

- COUNT/s

  syscalls per second

## DOCUMENTATION

See the DTraceToolkit for further documentation under the  Docs directory. The DTraceToolkit docs may include full worked examples with verbose descriptions explaining the output.

## EXIT

topsyscall will run until Ctrl-C is hit, or the specified interval is reached.

## AUTHOR

Brendan Gregg \[Sydney, Australia\]

## SEE ALSO

dtrace(1M), prstat(1M)