Quick Tip

Master `stat` for Instant File Insights

Challenge: You need to quickly check a file’s ownership, permissions, size, modification times, or other metadata without using multiple commands like `ls -l` or `ls -i`.

The Solution: The `stat` command provides a wealth of file metadata in a single, human-readable output.

stat <filename>

Why it works: `stat` directly queries the filesystem’s inode information for a given file, presenting all relevant details in a structured format, saving you from parsing multiple command outputs.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c ‘%A %U %G %s %y %n’` to get a custom output of just permissions, owner, group, size, modification time, and filename.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/10/2026