List all files, including hidden ones, and inspect permissions, sizes and timestamps with a single command. 15.11.2025 | reading time: 2 min Open a terminal and type `ls -la` to see every file in a directory, including hidden entries, with a long listing that shows permissions, owner, size and timestamp. See it in action Reproduce this example on your system: ``` mkdir demo_dir && cd demo_dir mkdir logs touch file.txt .hidden.conf echo "secret" > .env ls -la ``` Typical output can look like: ``` total 16 drwxr-xr-x 4 user group 4096 Nov 15 10:00 . drwxr-xr-x 18 user group 4096 Nov 15 09:59 .. -rw-r--r-- 1 user group 6 Nov 15 10:00 .env -rw-r--r-- 1 user group 0 Nov 15 10:00 .hidden.conf drwxr-xr-x 2 user group 4096 Nov 15 10:00 logs -rw-r--r-- 1 user group 0 Nov 15 10:00 file.txt ``` Options that change the view `ls -la` combines `-l` for long format and `-a` for all files; add `-h` for human-readable sizes, use `-A` to hide `.` and `..`, or `-t` / `-S` / `-r` to sort by time, size or reverse order respectively. When `ls -la` is not enough For inode numbers, use `ls -li`; for single directory entries use `ls -ld`; use `ls -R` to recurse into subdirectories; combine `--color=auto` for readable output in terminals that support color. Tools in the same workflow Pair `ls -la` with `stat` to get timestamps and access details, with `find` to search and act on results, or with `du` to measure disk usage when file sizes look suspicious. Where this leads Mastering `ls -la` is a first step toward confident filesystem work; keep exploring options and related commands and consider formal study to validate skills, such as CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1 with intensive exam preparation at bitsandbytes.academy. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. filesystem utilities scripting
