Quick Tip

Instant File Metadata with `stat`

Challenge: You need to quickly retrieve detailed information about a file, such as its permissions, ownership, size, and modification times, without resorting to multiple commands.

The Solution: Use the `stat` command.

stat [filename]

Why it works: The `stat` command is designed to display detailed status information about a file or file system. It aggregates all the relevant metadata into a single, human-readable output.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c “%A %U %G %s %y %n” [filename]` for a concise, customizable output showing permissions, owner, group, size, modification date, and filename.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/11/2026