Quick Tip

Instant File Metadata with `stat`

Challenge: You need to quickly check the ownership, permissions, size, or modification times of a file without opening it or running multiple commands.

The Solution: The `stat` command provides a comprehensive overview of a file’s metadata in a single, human-readable output.

stat filename

Why it works: `stat` directly interrogates the filesystem’s inode information for the specified file, providing a rich set of details in a structured format.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c “%U %G %s %y” filename` to display only the owner, group, size (in bytes), and last modification time, respectively.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 6/5/2026