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The free command is used in Linux to display the amount of free and used memory in the system. The flag that allows the output to be presented in a human-readable format, which means it will display memory sizes in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes as appropriate, is the -h flag.
When using the -h option, the free command automatically adjusts the size unit to the most suitable one for the value being displayed, making it easier for users to interpret the memory capacity at a glance. This is especially helpful because it avoids the need for manual conversions and provides a clear understanding of the memory status in more familiar units.
In contrast, the other flags have specific purposes: -g directs the output to display memory in gigabytes only, -m displays memory in megabytes, and -mb, while not a standard flag used with the free command, does not have a defined function in this context. Therefore, the -h flag is the correct choice for obtaining a flexible and easily digestible view of memory usage across various sizes.