Quick Tip

Unmasking Hidden File Permissions with `stat`

TITLE: Unmasking Hidden File Permissions with `stat`

Challenge: You need to quickly determine the exact ownership and permissions of a file or directory without the verbosity of `ls -l` or the need to parse its output.

The Solution: Utilize the `stat` command with specific format specifiers.

stat -c "%U:%G %a %n" filename

Why it works: The `stat` command provides detailed file status information. The `-c` option allows for custom output formatting, where `%U` represents the owner’s username, `%G` the group’s name, `%a` the octal permissions, and `%n` the filename.

Pro-Tip: Use `stat -c “%n %A” filename` to see the file type and symbolic permissions (e.g., `-rw-r–r–`).

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 4/29/2026