Ubuntu - * at the end of filename?

Question

In Ubuntu 10.10, showing a file listing using ll will occasionally show files with a * appended to the name of the file. What does this star mean?

Answer 1

It means the file is executable and you have ll aliased to ls -F, ls --classify or ls --indicator-style=classify (among other possible options). You can use the command alias ll to see what the alias is and change it persistently by editing your ~/.bashrc file (or other file) where it's defined.

Other indicators:

• / - directory
• @ - symbolic links
• | - fifos
• = - sockets
• > - doors

each depending on OS/filesystem support.

Answer 2

It means the file is executable.