chmod 055 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 055 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 5 |
chmod 055 filename
chmod 055 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) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
Is chmod 055 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
055 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 555.
chmod 055 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 055 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=,g=rx,o=rx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 055 /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 055 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
----r-xr-x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 722 makes new directories 055. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 055 mean?
chmod 055 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 0 (no access), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 5 (read/execute).
Is chmod 055 safe?
chmod 055 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 055 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 055 is represented as ---r-xr-x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=,g=rx,o=rx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: