How can you view the currently running kernel version in Linux?

To view the currently running kernel version in Linux, using the command uname -r is the appropriate method. This command is part of the uname utility, which provides system information. The -r option specifically instructs the command to output the kernel version. The kernel version is important for users and administrators as it can provide information regarding features, fixes, and compatibility with software.

The other options do not align with the standard commands or syntax in Linux. For example, kernel -v and version -k are not recognized commands and will result in an error, while os-version does not exist as a command in typical Linux distributions. Thus, uname -r not only functions correctly but is also the standard way to retrieve the current kernel version.