chmod 231 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 231 gives the owner write, the group write/execute, and everyone else execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 1 |
chmod 231 filename
chmod 231 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) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
| Others (o) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
Is chmod 231 Safe?
Moderate
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
231 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 711.
chmod 231 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 231 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=wx,o=x filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 231 /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 231 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w--wx--x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 546 makes new directories 231. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 231 mean?
chmod 231 gives the owner write, the group write/execute, and everyone else execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 1 (execute).
Is chmod 231 safe?
chmod 231 is classified as Moderate. Every member of the group can modify this file.
What is chmod 231 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 231 is represented as -w--wx--x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=wx,o=x filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: