chmod 176 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 176 gives the owner execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 1 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 176 filename
chmod 176 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) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 176 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify 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.
- 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
176 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 176 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 176 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=x,g=rwx,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 176 /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 176 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
---xrwxrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 601 makes new directories 176. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 176 mean?
chmod 176 gives the owner execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 1 (execute), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 176 safe?
chmod 176 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 176 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 176 is represented as --xrwxrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=x,g=rwx,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: