Quick Tip

Quick File Metadata with `stat`

Challenge: You need to quickly get detailed information about a file, such as its permissions, ownership, size, and modification times, without opening it or running multiple commands.

The Solution: Use the `stat` command.

stat [filename]

Why it works: The `stat` command is a powerful utility that displays detailed file or filesystem status, providing a comprehensive overview of metadata in a human-readable format.

Pro-Tip: For just the file permissions in octal format, use `stat -c “%a” [filename]`.

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