setfattr

Set name of attribute for file

$ setfattr [[-n|--name]] user.[attribute_name] [path/to/file]

$ setfattr [[-n|--name]] user.[attribute_name] [[-v|--value]] "[value]" [path/to/file]

$ setfattr [[-x|--remove]] user.[attribute_name] [path/to/file]

setfattr [-h] [-n name] [-v value] [-t] [--restore=file] file...

-n name
    The name of the extended attribute to set.

-v value
    The value to assign to the extended attribute.

-t
    Treat the value as a text string instead of a raw byte sequence.

--restore=file
    Restore extended attributes from a file created by getfattr.

-h
    Display help text and exit.

file...
    One or more files or directories to which the attribute will be applied.

The setfattr command is used to set extended attributes on files and directories in Linux. Extended attributes are name:value pairs that are associated with files and can store additional metadata beyond the standard file attributes (like permissions and timestamps). Unlike file permissions which control access, extended attributes are designed for storing arbitrary metadata. This metadata can be used by applications or other system utilities to enhance functionality or provide additional information about the file.

The attribute names are divided into namespaces, such as 'user', 'trusted', 'security', and 'system'. The 'user' namespace is generally used for application-specific metadata. The command requires appropriate permissions to modify the requested attributes. When setting attributes, you can specify the attribute name and value directly on the command line, or read them from a file. It is possible to set single attribute and multiple attributes in one shot.

Extended attributes provide a flexible way to augment files with additional information without altering the file's content.

Not all filesystems support extended attributes. Check your filesystem documentation. Requires appropriate privileges to modify attributes.

Different namespaces for extended attributes are intended for specific purposes. 'user' namespace is for general use, while 'security' might be used for access control extensions.

Carefully consider the security implications of extended attributes, as they could potentially be used to hide malicious code or bypass security restrictions. Ensure proper validation of attribute values.

getfattr(1), attr(5)