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Python 2.7 quick reference

28.8. `stat`: Interpretation of file status

The stat module contains a number of variables used in encoding and decoding various items returned by certain methods in the os module, such as stat() and chmod().

First, there are constants for indexing the components of a “status tuple” such as that returned by os.stat():

`ST_ATIME`	The epoch time of last access (see the `time` module for interpretation of times).
`ST_CTIME`	The epoch time of the file's last status change.
`ST_DEV`	The device number.
`ST_GID`	The group ID.
`ST_INO`	The i-node number.
`ST_MODE`	The file's permissions.
`ST_MTIME`	The epoch time of last modification.
`ST_NLINK`	The number of hard links.
`ST_SIZE`	The current size in bytes.
`ST_UID`	The user ID.

The following functions are defined in the stat module for testing a mode value m, where m is the ST_MODE element of the status tuple. Each function is a predicate:

`S_ISBLK(m)`	Is this a block device?
`S_ISCHR(m)`	Is this a character device?
`S_ISDIR(m)`	Is this a directory?
`S_ISFIFO(m)`	Is this a FIFO?
`S_ISLNK(m)`	Is this a soft (symbolic) link?
`S_ISREG(m)`	Is this an ordinary file?
`S_ISSOCK(m)`	Is this a socket?

These constants are defined for use as mask values in testing and assembling permission values such as those returned by os.stat() in Section 28.7, “os: The operating system interface”.

`S_IRGRP`	Group read permission.
`S_IROTH`	World read permission.
`S_IRUSR`	Owner read permission.
`S_ISGID`	SGID (set group ID) bit.
`S_ISUID`	SUID (set user ID) bit.
`S_IWGRP`	Group write permission.
`S_IWOTH`	World write permission.
`S_IWUSR`	Owner write permission.
`S_IXGRP`	Group execute permission.
`S_IXOTH`	World execute permission.
`S_IXUSR`	Owner execute permission.

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Last updated: 2013-04-24 13:51

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