chmod 143 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 143 gives the owner execute, the group read, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 1 | |||
| Group (g) | 4 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 143 filename
chmod 143 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) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 143 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- 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
143 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 740.
chmod 143 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 143 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=x,g=r,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 143 /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 143 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
---xr---wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 634 makes new directories 143. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 143 mean?
chmod 143 gives the owner execute, the group read, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 1 (execute), the group receives 4 (read), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 143 safe?
chmod 143 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 143 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 143 is represented as --xr---wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=x,g=r,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: