chmod 223 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 223 gives the owner write, the group write, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 223 filename
chmod 223 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) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Others (o) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 223 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
223 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 600.
chmod 223 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 223 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=w,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 223 /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 223 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w--w--wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 554 makes new directories 223. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 223 mean?
chmod 223 gives the owner write, the group write, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 223 safe?
chmod 223 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 223 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 223 is represented as -w--w--wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=w,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: