chmod 203 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 203 gives the owner write, the group no access, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 0 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 203 filename
chmod 203 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Group (g) | 0 |
--- |
No access | Cannot list, enter, or modify |
| Others (o) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 203 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
203 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 600.
chmod 203 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 203 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 203 /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 203 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w-----wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 574 makes new directories 203. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 203 mean?
chmod 203 gives the owner write, the group no access, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 0 (no access), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 203 safe?
chmod 203 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 203 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 203 is represented as -w-----wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: