stat
Display detailed file or filesystem status including inode information.
Synopsis
stat [OPTION]... FILE...
Examples
stat file.txt
stat -c '%s bytes' file.txt
stat -c '%a %U %G' /etc/passwd
stat -f /
Common options
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| -c | Use specified format string |
| -f | Display filesystem status instead |
| -L | Follow symbolic links |
| -t | Print in terse form |
About stat
The `stat` command display detailed file or filesystem status including inode information. File operation commands are essential for navigating and managing the Linux filesystem.
They form the backbone of everyday system administration and development workflows. Mastering these commands enables you to efficiently create, move, copy, and organize files and directories from the terminal, which is often faster and more scriptable than graphical alternatives.
The command accepts 4 commonly used flags shown above, though the full set of options is available in the man page (`man stat`). The 4 examples on this page cover typical real-world usage patterns that you can copy and adapt for your own workflows.
Related commands
More File Operations Commands
Other commands in the File Operations category