Quick Tip

Master `stat` for Instant File Metadata

Challenge: You need to quickly retrieve information about a file’s metadata, such as its size, permissions, ownership, and timestamps, without opening it or running multiple commands.

The Solution: The `stat` command is your go-to for this. It provides a comprehensive overview of a file’s inode information.

stat your_file_or_directory

Why it works: `stat` directly queries the file system’s inode data, which contains all the essential metadata about the file, presenting it in a human-readable format.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c “%U %G %A %s %n” your_file` to get just the owner, group, permissions, size, and filename in a custom format.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/7/2026