diff --git a/fs.go b/fs.go
index 00bb7a1..a9efccd 100644
--- a/fs.go
+++ b/fs.go
@@ -13,6 +13,39 @@ var (
 	ErrCrossedBoundary = errors.New("chroot boundary crossed")
 )
 
+// Capability holds the supported features of a billy filesystem. This does
+// not mean that the capability has to be supported by the underlying storage.
+// For example, a billy filesystem may support WriteCapability but the
+// storage be mounted in read only mode.
+type Capability uint64
+
+const (
+	// WriteCapability means that the fs is writable.
+	WriteCapability Capability = 1 << iota
+	// ReadCapability means that the fs is readable.
+	ReadCapability
+	// ReadAndWriteCapability is the ability to open a file in read and write mode.
+	ReadAndWriteCapability
+	// SeekCapability means it is able to move position inside the file.
+	SeekCapability
+	// TruncateCapability means that a file can be truncated.
+	TruncateCapability
+	// LockCapability is the ability to lock a file.
+	LockCapability
+
+	// DefaultCapabilities lists all capable features supported by filesystems
+	// without Capability interface. This list should not be changed until a
+	// major version is released.
+	DefaultCapabilities Capability = WriteCapability | ReadCapability |
+		ReadAndWriteCapability | SeekCapability | TruncateCapability |
+		LockCapability
+
+	// AllCapabilities lists all capable features.
+	AllCapabilities Capability = WriteCapability | ReadCapability |
+		ReadAndWriteCapability | SeekCapability | TruncateCapability |
+		LockCapability
+)
+
 // Filesystem abstract the operations in a storage-agnostic interface.
 // Each method implementation mimics the behavior of the equivalent functions
 // at the os package from the standard library.
@@ -143,3 +176,27 @@ type File interface {
 	// Truncate the file.
 	Truncate(size int64) error
 }
+
+// Capable interface can return the available features of a filesystem.
+type Capable interface {
+	// Capabilities returns the capabilities of a filesystem in bit flags.
+	Capabilities() Capability
+}
+
+// Capabilities returns the features supported by a filesystem. If the FS
+// does not implement Capable interface it returns all features.
+func Capabilities(fs Basic) Capability {
+	capable, ok := fs.(Capable)
+	if !ok {
+		return DefaultCapabilities
+	}
+
+	return capable.Capabilities()
+}
+
+// CapabilityCheck tests the filesystem for the provided capabilities and
+// returns true in case it supports all of them.
+func CapabilityCheck(fs Basic, capabilities Capability) bool {
+	fsCaps := Capabilities(fs)
+	return fsCaps&capabilities == capabilities
+}
diff --git a/fs_test.go b/fs_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..368eb95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fs_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package billy_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	. "gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4"
+	"gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4/test"
+
+	. "gopkg.in/check.v1"
+)
+
+type FSSuite struct{}
+
+func Test(t *testing.T) { TestingT(t) }
+
+var _ = Suite(&FSSuite{})
+
+func (s *FSSuite) TestCapabilities(c *C) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		caps     Capability
+		expected bool
+	}{
+		{LockCapability, false},
+		{ReadCapability, true},
+		{ReadCapability | WriteCapability, true},
+		{ReadCapability | WriteCapability | ReadAndWriteCapability | TruncateCapability, true},
+		{ReadCapability | WriteCapability | ReadAndWriteCapability | TruncateCapability | LockCapability, false},
+		{TruncateCapability | LockCapability, false},
+	}
+
+	// This filesystem supports all capabilities except for LockCapability
+	fs := new(test.NoLockCapFs)
+
+	for _, e := range cases {
+		c.Assert(CapabilityCheck(fs, e.caps), Equals, e.expected)
+	}
+
+	dummy := new(test.BasicMock)
+	c.Assert(Capabilities(dummy), Equals, DefaultCapabilities)
+}
diff --git a/helper/chroot/chroot.go b/helper/chroot/chroot.go
index e3e5a6d..44ddb3d 100644
--- a/helper/chroot/chroot.go
+++ b/helper/chroot/chroot.go
@@ -217,6 +217,11 @@ func (fs *ChrootHelper) Underlying() billy.Basic {
 	return fs.underlying
 }
 
+// Capabilities implements the Capable interface.
+func (fs *ChrootHelper) Capabilities() billy.Capability {
+	return billy.Capabilities(fs.underlying)
+}
+
 type file struct {
 	billy.File
 	name string
diff --git a/helper/chroot/chroot_test.go b/helper/chroot/chroot_test.go
index 580347a..819b000 100644
--- a/helper/chroot/chroot_test.go
+++ b/helper/chroot/chroot_test.go
@@ -351,3 +351,18 @@ func (s *ChrootSuite) TestReadlinkWithBasic(c *C) {
 	_, err := fs.Readlink("")
 	c.Assert(err, Equals, billy.ErrNotSupported)
 }
+
+func (s *ChrootSuite) TestCapabilities(c *C) {
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.BasicMock))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.OnlyReadCapFs))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.NoLockCapFs))
+}
+
+func testCapabilities(c *C, basic billy.Basic) {
+	baseCapabilities := billy.Capabilities(basic)
+
+	fs := New(basic, "/foo")
+	capabilities := billy.Capabilities(fs)
+
+	c.Assert(capabilities, Equals, baseCapabilities)
+}
diff --git a/helper/mount/mount.go b/helper/mount/mount.go
index bb13da5..83f7dd5 100644
--- a/helper/mount/mount.go
+++ b/helper/mount/mount.go
@@ -167,6 +167,11 @@ func (h *Mount) Underlying() billy.Basic {
 	return h.underlying
 }
 
+// Capabilities implements the Capable interface.
+func (fs *Mount) Capabilities() billy.Capability {
+	return billy.Capabilities(fs.underlying) & billy.Capabilities(fs.source)
+}
+
 func (fs *Mount) getBasicAndPath(path string) (billy.Basic, string) {
 	path = cleanPath(path)
 	if !fs.isMountpoint(path) {
diff --git a/helper/mount/mount_test.go b/helper/mount/mount_test.go
index 8903dc9..ba558f3 100644
--- a/helper/mount/mount_test.go
+++ b/helper/mount/mount_test.go
@@ -337,3 +337,34 @@ func (s *MountSuite) TestSourceNotSupported(c *C) {
 	_, err = h.Readlink("foo")
 	c.Assert(err, Equals, billy.ErrNotSupported)
 }
+
+func (s *MountSuite) TestCapabilities(c *C) {
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.BasicMock), new(test.BasicMock))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.BasicMock), new(test.OnlyReadCapFs))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.BasicMock), new(test.NoLockCapFs))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.OnlyReadCapFs), new(test.BasicMock))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.OnlyReadCapFs), new(test.OnlyReadCapFs))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.OnlyReadCapFs), new(test.NoLockCapFs))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.NoLockCapFs), new(test.BasicMock))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.NoLockCapFs), new(test.OnlyReadCapFs))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.NoLockCapFs), new(test.NoLockCapFs))
+}
+
+func testCapabilities(c *C, a, b billy.Basic) {
+	aCapabilities := billy.Capabilities(a)
+	bCapabilities := billy.Capabilities(b)
+
+	fs := New(a, "/foo", b)
+	capabilities := billy.Capabilities(fs)
+
+	unionCapabilities := aCapabilities & bCapabilities
+
+	c.Assert(capabilities, Equals, unionCapabilities)
+
+	fs = New(b, "/foo", a)
+	capabilities = billy.Capabilities(fs)
+
+	unionCapabilities = aCapabilities & bCapabilities
+
+	c.Assert(capabilities, Equals, unionCapabilities)
+}
diff --git a/helper/polyfill/polyfill.go b/helper/polyfill/polyfill.go
index a3d85c1..f613c25 100644
--- a/helper/polyfill/polyfill.go
+++ b/helper/polyfill/polyfill.go
@@ -98,3 +98,8 @@ func (h *Polyfill) Root() string {
 func (h *Polyfill) Underlying() billy.Basic {
 	return h.Basic
 }
+
+// Capabilities implements the Capable interface.
+func (h *Polyfill) Capabilities() billy.Capability {
+	return billy.Capabilities(h.Basic)
+}
diff --git a/helper/polyfill/polyfill_test.go b/helper/polyfill/polyfill_test.go
index b58d19d..2579ed9 100644
--- a/helper/polyfill/polyfill_test.go
+++ b/helper/polyfill/polyfill_test.go
@@ -61,3 +61,18 @@ func (s *PolyfillSuite) TestChroot(c *C) {
 func (s *PolyfillSuite) TestRoot(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(s.Helper.Root(), Equals, string(filepath.Separator))
 }
+
+func (s *PolyfillSuite) TestCapabilities(c *C) {
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.BasicMock))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.OnlyReadCapFs))
+	testCapabilities(c, new(test.NoLockCapFs))
+}
+
+func testCapabilities(c *C, basic billy.Basic) {
+	baseCapabilities := billy.Capabilities(basic)
+
+	fs := New(basic)
+	capabilities := billy.Capabilities(fs)
+
+	c.Assert(capabilities, Equals, baseCapabilities)
+}
diff --git a/memfs/memory.go b/memfs/memory.go
index 2f8dcae..7eab699 100644
--- a/memfs/memory.go
+++ b/memfs/memory.go
@@ -190,6 +190,15 @@ func (fs *Memory) Readlink(link string) (string, error) {
 	return string(f.content.bytes), nil
 }
 
+// Capabilities implements the Capable interface.
+func (fs *Memory) Capabilities() billy.Capability {
+	return billy.WriteCapability |
+		billy.ReadCapability |
+		billy.ReadAndWriteCapability |
+		billy.SeekCapability |
+		billy.TruncateCapability
+}
+
 type file struct {
 	name     string
 	content  *content
@@ -273,7 +282,7 @@ func (f *file) Close() error {
 func (f *file) Truncate(size int64) error {
 	if size < int64(len(f.content.bytes)) {
 		f.content.bytes = f.content.bytes[:size]
-	} else if more := int(size)-len(f.content.bytes); more > 0 {
+	} else if more := int(size) - len(f.content.bytes); more > 0 {
 		f.content.bytes = append(f.content.bytes, make([]byte, more)...)
 	}
 
diff --git a/memfs/memory_test.go b/memfs/memory_test.go
index 4de996e..4f15909 100644
--- a/memfs/memory_test.go
+++ b/memfs/memory_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package memfs
 import (
 	"testing"
 
+	"gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4"
 	"gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4/test"
 
 	. "gopkg.in/check.v1"
@@ -20,3 +21,11 @@ var _ = Suite(&MemorySuite{})
 func (s *MemorySuite) SetUpTest(c *C) {
 	s.FilesystemSuite = test.NewFilesystemSuite(New())
 }
+
+func (s *MemorySuite) TestCapabilities(c *C) {
+	_, ok := s.FS.(billy.Capable)
+	c.Assert(ok, Equals, true)
+
+	caps := billy.Capabilities(s.FS)
+	c.Assert(caps, Equals, billy.DefaultCapabilities&^billy.LockCapability)
+}
diff --git a/osfs/os.go b/osfs/os.go
index 348cea9..ff35a3b 100644
--- a/osfs/os.go
+++ b/osfs/os.go
@@ -127,6 +127,11 @@ func (fs *OS) Readlink(link string) (string, error) {
 	return os.Readlink(link)
 }
 
+// Capabilities implements the Capable interface.
+func (fs *OS) Capabilities() billy.Capability {
+	return billy.DefaultCapabilities
+}
+
 // file is a wrapper for an os.File which adds support for file locking.
 type file struct {
 	*os.File
diff --git a/osfs/os_test.go b/osfs/os_test.go
index b81943f..3a0258b 100644
--- a/osfs/os_test.go
+++ b/osfs/os_test.go
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
-	. "gopkg.in/check.v1"
+	"gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4"
 	"gopkg.in/src-d/go-billy.v4/test"
+
+	. "gopkg.in/check.v1"
 )
 
 func Test(t *testing.T) { TestingT(t) }
@@ -36,3 +38,11 @@ func (s *OSSuite) TestOpenDoesNotCreateDir(c *C) {
 	_, err = os.Stat(filepath.Join(s.path, "dir"))
 	c.Assert(os.IsNotExist(err), Equals, true)
 }
+
+func (s *OSSuite) TestCapabilities(c *C) {
+	_, ok := s.FS.(billy.Capable)
+	c.Assert(ok, Equals, true)
+
+	caps := billy.Capabilities(s.FS)
+	c.Assert(caps, Equals, billy.AllCapabilities)
+}
diff --git a/test/mock.go b/test/mock.go
index 2cf7397..519bba6 100644
--- a/test/mock.go
+++ b/test/mock.go
@@ -134,3 +134,23 @@ func (*FileMock) Unlock() error {
 func (*FileMock) Truncate(size int64) error {
 	return nil
 }
+
+type OnlyReadCapFs struct {
+	BasicMock
+}
+
+func (o *OnlyReadCapFs) Capabilities() billy.Capability {
+	return billy.ReadCapability
+}
+
+type NoLockCapFs struct {
+	BasicMock
+}
+
+func (o *NoLockCapFs) Capabilities() billy.Capability {
+	return billy.WriteCapability |
+		billy.ReadCapability |
+		billy.ReadAndWriteCapability |
+		billy.SeekCapability |
+		billy.TruncateCapability
+}