How to Use lsblk Command in Linux: Syntax and Examples

Use the lsblk command in Linux to list information about block devices like disks and partitions. Run lsblk alone to see a tree view of devices or add options like -f to show filesystem info or -o to customize output columns.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the lsblk command is:

• lsblk [options] - Lists block devices.
• -f - Shows filesystem information.
• -o - Specifies which columns to display.
• -a - Includes empty devices.
• -r - Outputs raw data without tree formatting.

bash

lsblk [options]

Example

This example shows how to use lsblk to list all block devices with filesystem details.

bash

lsblk -f

Output

NAME   FSTYPE LABEL UUID                                 MOUNTPOINT
sda
├─sda1 ext4         1234abcd-56ef-7890-ab12-3456ijklmnop /boot
├─sda2 swap         5678efgh-90ab-cdef-1234-5678mnopqrstu [SWAP]
└─sda3 ext4         9abcde12-3456-7890-abcd-ef1234567890 /
sdb
└─sdb1 ntfs   Data  0123abcd-4567-89ef-gh01-2345ijklmnop /mnt/data

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when using lsblk include:

• Running lsblk without sudo may hide some devices depending on permissions.
• Expecting detailed filesystem info without using -f option.
• Misreading the tree structure; child devices are indented under their parent device.

bash

lsblk
# vs
sudo lsblk -f

Quick Reference

Option	Description
-f	Show filesystem type, label, and UUID
-o	Specify output columns (e.g., NAME,SIZE,MOUNTPOINT)
-a	Include empty devices
-r	Raw output without tree formatting
-h	Show help information

Key Takeaways

Use lsblk to list block devices and their partitions in a clear tree format.

Add -f to see filesystem details like type and mount points.

Use -o to customize which columns to display for focused info.

Run lsblk with sudo if some devices do not appear.

Understand the tree structure to identify parent and child devices correctly.