> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://filepacks.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Inspect

> Read the summary metadata from an existing .fpk artifact.

## What it does

`inspect` reads an artifact and prints a compact summary derived from its manifest.

Use it when you want a quick read on what an artifact claims to contain before deciding whether to verify or compare it.

## Usage

```bash theme={null}
filepacks inspect <file>
```

## When to use it

* after `pack` to confirm the resulting artifact
* when someone hands you a `.fpk` file
* before `verify` or `compare`, when you want to confirm name, version, digest, size, and file count

## Arguments

* `<file>`: path to an existing `.fpk` artifact

The current CLI requires the path to end in `.fpk`.

## Minimal example

```bash theme={null}
npx filepacks inspect ./artifact.fpk
```

## Expected output shape

Example output:

```text theme={null}
Inspect
path=/absolute/path/to/artifact.fpk
name=artifact
version=1
digest=sha256:...
files=2
bytes=12
```

## What it tells you

* artifact path
* artifact name
* manifest format version
* archive digest
* file count
* total bytes

## Common mistakes

* using `inspect` when you actually need integrity guarantees; use `verify` for that
* passing a path that does not end in `.fpk`
* assuming the CLI prints the full per-file list; the summary is intentionally compact

## Related commands

* `pack` to create the artifact
* `verify` to confirm the payload still matches the manifest
* `compare` to see whether another artifact differs

## Core API

```ts theme={null}
const artifact = await inspect({artifact: '/tmp/example.fpk'})

artifact.manifest.artifact_name
artifact.manifest.files
artifact.payloadFiles
artifact.artifactDigest
```