chmod 141 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 141 gives the owner execute, the group read, and everyone else execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 1 | |||
| Group (g) | 4 | |||
| Others (o) | 1 |
chmod 141 filename
chmod 141 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
| Group (g) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Others (o) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
Is chmod 141 Safe?
Low Risk
- Even the owner cannot modify this file without changing permissions first.
- Scripts need read permission to run; only compiled binaries can be executed without it.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
141 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 740.
chmod 141 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 141 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=x,g=r,o=x filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 141 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 141 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
---xr----x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 636 makes new directories 141. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 141 mean?
chmod 141 gives the owner execute, the group read, and everyone else execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 1 (execute), the group receives 4 (read), and others receive 1 (execute).
Is chmod 141 safe?
chmod 141 is classified as Low Risk. Even the owner cannot modify this file without changing permissions first.
What is chmod 141 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 141 is represented as --xr----x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=x,g=r,o=x filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: