int stat( char *pathname, struct stat *buff )
int fstat( char *handle, struct stat *buff ) - prototype in stat.h - stat() and fstat() store information about a given open file (or directory) in the stat structure (in stat.h) - stat() gets information about the open file or directory, while fstat() gets info about the open file associated with handle - returns 0 if successful, else -1 on error