chmod 073 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 073 gives the owner no access, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 073 filename
chmod 073 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 0 |
--- |
No access | Cannot list, enter, or modify |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 073 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- 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
073 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 073 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 073 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=,g=rwx,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 073 /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 073 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
----rwx-wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 704 makes new directories 073. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 073 mean?
chmod 073 gives the owner no access, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 0 (no access), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 073 safe?
chmod 073 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 073 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 073 is represented as ---rwx-wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=,g=rwx,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: