chmod 204 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 204 gives the owner write, the group no access, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 0 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 204 filename
chmod 204 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) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 204 Safe?
Low Risk
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
204 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 204 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 204 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 204 /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 204 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w----r-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 573 makes new directories 204 and new files 204. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 204 mean?
chmod 204 gives the owner write, the group no access, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 0 (no access), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 204 safe?
chmod 204 is classified as Low Risk. Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
What is chmod 204 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 204 is represented as -w----r--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: