chmod 226 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 226 gives the owner write, the group write, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 226 filename
chmod 226 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 226 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify 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
226 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 226 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 226 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=w,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 226 /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 226 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w--w-rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 551 makes new directories 226 and new files 226. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 226 mean?
chmod 226 gives the owner write, the group write, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 226 safe?
chmod 226 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 226 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 226 is represented as -w--w-rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=w,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: