Quick Tip

Unlock Instant File Metadata with `stat`

Challenge: You frequently need to check file permissions, ownership, size, and modification times, but don’t want to wade through lengthy `ls` output.

The Solution: The `stat` command provides a concise and detailed overview of a file’s metadata.

stat filename

Why it works: `stat` bypasses general file listing and directly queries the filesystem for detailed information about a specific file, presenting it in an organized, human-readable format.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c “%n %U %G %s %y” filename` for a custom, space-separated output of filename, owner, group, size, and last modification time.

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