chmod 054 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 054 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 054 filename
chmod 054 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 |
--- |
No access | Cannot list, enter, or modify |
| Group (g) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Others (o) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 054 Safe?
Low Risk
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
- Even the owner cannot modify this file without changing permissions first.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
054 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 444.
chmod 054 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 054 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=,g=rx,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 054 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type f -exec chmod 054 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
----r-xr-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 723 makes new directories 054. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 054 mean?
chmod 054 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 0 (no access), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 054 safe?
chmod 054 is classified as Low Risk. Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
What is chmod 054 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 054 is represented as ---r-xr--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=,g=rx,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: