getfacl

getfacl is a command line tool in Unix-like operating systems used to retrieve the Access Control Lists (ACL) of files and directories. It provides a way to view the permissions and extended attributes associated with files and directories.

Here are ten key points about getfacl:

1. getfacl stands for "get file ACL" and is a part of the acl package, which includes utilities for manipulating ACLs.
2. It is available on a wide range of Unix-like systems, including Linux, BSD, and macOS.
3. By using getfacl, users can retrieve information about the ACLs of a file or directory, including the owner, group, and permissions of each entry.
4. It offers a more granular control over access permissions than the traditional Unix permission system, enabling finer control over read, write, and execute permissions for individual users or groups.
5. getfacl can be used with both files and directories, allowing users to inspect and manipulate permissions and ownership information for an entire directory tree.
6. The tool has various options, such as -p to display ACLs in a human-readable format and -R to process directories recursively.
7. It is commonly used in conjunction with setfacl, a related command line tool that allows users to set or modify ACLs.
8. When used in combination with a file system that supports ACLs, getfacl provides a powerful way to manage access control in a more detailed and flexible manner than the traditional Unix permissions.
9. The output of getfacl can be redirected to a file for further analysis or used as a backup to restore ACLs after changes.
10. Depending on the operating system, additional features may be available, such as the ability to set default ACLs or inherit permissions from parent directories.