chmod 214 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 214 gives the owner write, the group execute, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 214 filename
chmod 214 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) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
| Others (o) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 214 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
214 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 214 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 214 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=x,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 214 /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 214 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w---xr-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 563 makes new directories 214. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 214 mean?
chmod 214 gives the owner write, the group execute, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 214 safe?
chmod 214 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 214 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 214 is represented as -w---xr--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=x,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: