Memory
Used memory, for example RAM 8 GB, from active, wired, and compressed pages.
Updates: 2-second sampling.
Output #
Used memory from active, wired, and compressed physical pages. The default item displays a memorychip icon and text such as RAM 8 GB. Omitting the memory block is equivalent to memory: {}.
Configuration #
Use the item-level text template to customise or hide the label.
Set these options inside memory.
| Property | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
showSymbol | true | Show the state icon, including an item-level override. |
symbols.font | - | Shared installed font name for glyph symbols; each glyph can override it. |
symbols.size | Resolved item/theme font size | Shared glyph size, 8 to 72 points; each glyph can override it. |
symbols.available | memorychip | Valid memory reading. |
symbols.unavailable | questionmark | No usable memory reading. |
Display formats #
| Template fields | Example value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
{{used}} | 8 GB | Used bytes formatted by macOS. |
{{percentage}}% | 50% | Used bytes divided by installed physical RAM, rounded to the nearest whole percent. |
{{used}} / {{total}} | 8 GB / 16 GB | Used bytes and installed physical RAM, each formatted by macOS. |
Add RAM to text if you want the prefix. Wrap readings in an available section to handle missing values.
Appearance #
Symbols accept SF Symbol names or font glyph objects. Use symbolFontWeight to set SF Symbol weight independently of text.
An item-level symbol overrides both state icons. showSymbol: false hides all symbols, including this override. Icon-only items retain used/total and percentage in their accessibility label, or Memory usage unavailable when no valid reading exists.
To change memory, edit the configuration file. sbar set cannot change this block.
Shared item options cover styling, symbols, actions, priority, and enabled state.
Text templates #
The item-level text setting supports id, value, symbol, used, total, percentage, usedBytes, totalBytes, available. See text templates for shared fields and syntax.
used and total include units. usedBytes and totalBytes contain byte counts. percentage is a rounded whole number without %. These reading fields are empty when unavailable. A valid zero-usage reading still has available: true.
value contains the default label, such as RAM 8 GB, or RAM — when unavailable. Use it as a fallback when displaying a percentage:
{
"id": "memory",
"type": "memory",
"text": "{{#available}}RAM {{percentage}}%{{/available}}{{^available}}{{value}}{{/available}}"
}
This displays RAM 50% when half the installed memory is used, RAM 0% for a valid zero reading, and RAM — when unavailable. The item keeps its state icon and native accessibility description.
Updates #
The provider samples memory usage every two seconds for all displays. Startup, failed reads, or inconsistent counts display RAM — with the unavailable icon by default, replacing the previous reading. The next valid sample restores the value.
Refresh policies capture the full numeric state, including unavailable readings. Manual and interval items retain their snapshot until refreshed. Raw provider events retain used-byte formatting regardless of an item’s text template. See refresh policies.
Current limits #
Used bytes are active + wired + compressed physical pages, multiplied by the host page size. This calculation omits other virtual memory categories and can differ from Activity Monitor’s “Memory Used”. used, usedBytes, and the used-memory portion of percentage share this calculation. total and totalBytes represent installed physical RAM.
No memory-pressure measurement, configurable units, alternative usage calculation, or dedicated state tints.
Example #
{
"id": "memory",
"type": "memory",
"text": "{{#available}}{{used}} / {{total}}{{/available}}{{^available}}—{{/available}}"
}
This shows an icon and a value such as 8 GB / 16 GB. When no reading is available, it shows — with a question-mark icon. Set top-level text: "" for an icon-only item, or memory.showSymbol: false for text-only output.