chmod 215 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 215 gives the owner write, the group execute, and everyone else read/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 5 |
chmod 215 filename
chmod 215 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) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
Is chmod 215 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
215 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 755.
chmod 215 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 215 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=x,o=rx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 215 /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 215 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w---xr-x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 562 makes new directories 215. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 215 mean?
chmod 215 gives the owner write, the group execute, and everyone else read/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 5 (read/execute).
Is chmod 215 safe?
chmod 215 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 215 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 215 is represented as -w---xr-x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=x,o=rx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: