Which command is used to change the ownership of a file in Linux?

The command used to change the ownership of a file in Linux is chown. This command allows users to assign different user and group permissions for files and directories.

When you run chown followed by the new owner and the target filename, it modifies the ownership attributes of the specified file. For example, executing chown username filename would change the ownership of that file to the specified user.

Understanding the role of chown is essential for managing file permissions and security within a Linux environment. By properly assigning ownership, system administrators can control who has access to read, write, or execute files, thus maintaining an effective security posture.

The other commands listed, such as chmod, are used for changing permissions, specifically the read, write, and execute permissions of files and directories. Meanwhile, ls is a command used to list files and directories, containing no functionality for changing ownership. Lastly, the mv command is utilized for moving or renaming files and does not influence ownership directly.