chmod 056 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 056 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 056 filename
chmod 056 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 056 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- 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
056 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 444.
chmod 056 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 056 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=,g=rx,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 056 /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 056 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
----r-xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 721 makes new directories 056. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 056 mean?
chmod 056 gives the owner no access, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 0 (no access), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 056 safe?
chmod 056 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 056 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 056 is represented as ---r-xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=,g=rx,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: