Quick Tip

Instant File Permissions & Ownership with `stat`

Challenge: You need to quickly ascertain the ownership and permissions of a file without multiple commands or visually scanning `ls -l` output.

The Solution: Use the `stat` command with minimal arguments.

stat -c "%U:%G %A" filename

Why it works: The `stat` command displays file status. The `-c` flag allows for custom output formatting. `%U` represents the owner’s username, `%G` the group’s name, and `%A` the access rights in symbolic notation.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c “%U:%G %a” filename` to see octal permissions instead of symbolic ones.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/1/2026