What does the load average column in the top utility mean?

The load average column in the top utility shows the average system load over specific time intervals. Usually, three numbers are displayed, for example: 0.15 0.10 0.05, which indicate the average number of processes waiting to be executed (in the CPU queue) over the last 1, 5, and 15 minutes respectively.

In simple terms, the load average reflects how busy the CPU and the system as a whole are. If the load average equals the number of CPU cores, it means the system is 100% loaded. If the value is higher, processes are waiting in line, and the system is overloaded.

For example, if you have 4 cores and the load average is 4.0, the system is fully loaded; if it is 8.0, the load is twice the CPU capacity, which can lead to delays.

Thus, the load average helps understand the current and historical system load and assess whether there are enough resources to handle tasks.