Linux system files have three main time attributes, CTime (change times), Atime (Access Time), Mtime (Modify)

CTime refers to the change time.

Mtime refers to modify time.

The difference between Mtime and CTime is that only if the contents of the file are modified, the mtime of the file will be updated, and the renaming of the file and the owner of the modified file will only update the CTime.

Example: MV operation of the file, mtime unchanged, CTime Update, edit the contents of the file, Mtime and CTime simultaneously modified. The effect of other operations can be tested by yourself. However, a touch operation on a file modifies both Mtime and CTime.

Atime, this is updated every time you view the contents of a file. such as cat operations, and LS operations are not updated.

You can use stat to see properties such as the mtime,ctime,atime of a file, or you can view it through the LS command, as follows:

LS-LC filename Lists the CTime of the file

Ls-lu filename Lists the atime of the file

ls-l filename Lists the mtime of the file

Linux system files have three main time attributes, CTime (change times), Atime (Access Time), Mtime (Modify)