Linux stat Command

The stat command in Linux is used to display detailed information about files and file systems. It provides access, modify, change, and birth timestamps along with metadata like file size, permissions, and ownership. This makes it useful for both system administrators and forensic analysts.

Basic Syntax

The general syntax of the command are as follows:

$ stat [options] filename

Examples

View File Information

$ stat file.txt

Shows detailed information about file.txt, including size, permissions, owner, and timestamps.

Display Only File Size

$ stat -c %s file.txt

Outputs the file size in bytes.

Show Last Access Time

$ stat -c %x file.txt

Displays the last access timestamp of the file.

Show Last Modification Time

$ stat -c %y file.txt

Displays the last time the file content was modified.

Show Last Change Time

$ stat -c %z file.txt

Shows the last time file metadata (permissions, ownership, etc.) changed.

Custom Output Format

$ stat -c "File: %n | Size: %s bytes | Modified: %y" file.txt

Displays a custom summary of file details in one line.

Key Timestamps

Timestamp	Description
Access	Last time the file was read.
Modify	Last time the file content was modified.
Change	Last time file metadata (permissions/ownership) changed.
Birth	File creation time (may not be available on all filesystems).

The stat command is a versatile utility for examining files in Linux. Whether you are troubleshooting file issues, monitoring file activity, or conducting forensic analysis, stat provides detailed and structured insights into file metadata and timestamps.