Which ls option lists files ordered by modification time (most recent first) in the current directory?

Introduction / Context:
Sorting by modification time is a frequent need when investigating logs, build artifacts, or recent changes. The ls command provides a flag to order entries by their last modification time so the newest items appear first, improving situational awareness on busy systems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Standard GNU/BSD ls behavior is available.
• You want chronological sorting by modification time.
• No recursion or inode listing is required.

Concept / Approach:

Use ls -t to sort by modification time descending (newest first). Combine with -l for detailed listings or -r to reverse the sort (oldest first). For human-readable timestamps and sizes, add -h where supported.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Compare output of ls -t with stat for specific files to confirm ordering by modification time (mtime).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• ls -1: one entry per line; not a time sort.
• ls -i: shows inode numbers.
• ls -R: recursive listing; no time ordering implied.
• None of the above: incorrect because -t is correct.

Common Pitfalls:

• Confusing access time (atime) or change time (ctime) with modification time (mtime).
• Forgetting -r reverses the order.

Final Answer:

ls -t.