chmod 216 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 216 gives the owner write, the group execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 216 filename
chmod 216 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 216 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
216 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 216 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 216 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=x,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 216 /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 216 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w---xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 561 makes new directories 216. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 216 mean?
chmod 216 gives the owner write, the group execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 216 safe?
chmod 216 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 216 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 216 is represented as -w---xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=x,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: