chmod 206 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 206 gives the owner write, the group no access, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 0 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 206 filename
chmod 206 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 206 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- 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
206 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 206 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 206 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 206 /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 206 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w----rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 571 makes new directories 206 and new files 206. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 206 mean?
chmod 206 gives the owner write, the group no access, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 0 (no access), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 206 safe?
chmod 206 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 206 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 206 is represented as -w----rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: