Quick Tip

Instant File Permissions & Ownership with `stat`

Challenge: You need to quickly see the permissions, ownership, and other metadata of a file without using `ls -l` which can sometimes be verbose or not display all the details you need.

The Solution: Use the `stat` command.

stat filename

Why it works: The `stat` command displays detailed information about a file or filesystem, including access, modification, and change times, as well as access control information (permissions and ownership).

Pro-Tip: To see just the access permissions in octal format, use `stat -c “%a” filename`.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/28/2026