Quick Tip

Master `stat` for Instant File Metadata

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

The Solution: Leverage the `stat` command for a comprehensive, single-line overview of file metadata.

stat <filename>

Why it works: The `stat` command is designed to display detailed information about files and file systems, providing all essential metadata in a human-readable format. This is much more efficient than using separate commands like `ls -l`, `du`, or `date` for individual pieces of information.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c “%n %s %U %G %y” <filename>` to display just the filename, size in bytes, owner, group, and last modification time in a custom format.

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