stat MacOS command

The stat command on MacOS is a useful tool for viewing detailed information about files, such as their size, permissions, timestamps, and more. This command provides a way to access metadata that is not easily visible through the regular user interface. By using the stat command, you can quickly retrieve various attributes of a file, helping you to manage and work with files more effectively. Whether you need to check the last modification time of a file or verify its size, the stat command gives you a comprehensive overview of the file’s metadata at a glance. Familiarizing yourself with this command can enhance your productivity when working with files on MacOS.

stat Syntax:

stat [option] [filename]

Options:

Option	Description
-f	Display information in filesystem format
-s	Display only size information
-t	Display information in terse format
-x	Display information in XML format

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
filename	The name of the file to get details for

Caution

Exercise caution when using the stat command as it provides detailed information about the specified file which may be sensitive.

stat bash Examples:

Check File Information

stat file.txt

Displays detailed information about the file “file.txt”.

Display Information in Human-Readable Format

stat -f file.txt

Shows the file information in a human-readable format.

Check Inode Information

stat -f file.txt

Retrieves the inode details of the file “file.txt”.

Display Information in Numeric Format

stat -f file.txt -c "%i %s"

Shows specific file details in a numeric format.

Check Access and Modified Time

stat -f file.txt -c "%x %y"

Displays the access and modified times of the file “file.txt”.

Show File Size in Bytes

stat -f file.txt -c "%s"

Outputs the file size in bytes for “file.txt”.

Tip

When using the stat command in MacOS, make sure to refer to the man page or help section for detailed information on various options and how to customize the output to suit your requirements.

stat Command Help Center:

How do I use stat in MacOS?

To use the stat command in MacOS, execute the following command:

stat --option <value>

How can I display information about a file using stat in MacOS?

To display information about a file using stat in MacOS, use the following command:

stat /path/to/file

How do I get the output in a specific format with stat in MacOS?

To get the output in a specific format with stat in MacOS, you can use the following command:

stat -f "Format string" /path/to/file

How can I show only the permissions of a file with stat in MacOS?

To show only the permissions of a file using stat in MacOS, you can run the following command:

stat -f "%Sp" /path/to/file

How can I get the size of a file in a human-readable format with stat in MacOS?

To get the size of a file in a human-readable format using stat in MacOS, you can use the following command:

stat -f "%z" /path/to/file

How do I display the last access time of a file with stat in MacOS?

To display the last access time of a file using stat in MacOS, you can run the following command:

stat -f "%Sa" /path/to/file

How can I view the inode number of a file with stat in MacOS?

To view the inode number of a file using stat in MacOS, you can use the following command:

stat -f "%i" /path/to/file

How do I show the birth time (creation time) of a file with stat in MacOS?

To show the birth time (creation time) of a file using stat in MacOS, you can execute the following command:

stat -f "%SB" /path/to/file

Applications of the stat command

• Checking file permissions
• Viewing file size
• Displaying file creation, modification, and access times
• Checking file type
• Retaining file information for scripting purposes