chmod 236 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 236 gives the owner write, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 236 filename
chmod 236 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 236 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
236 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 236 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 236 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=wx,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 236 /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 236 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w--wxrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 541 makes new directories 236. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 236 mean?
chmod 236 gives the owner write, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 236 safe?
chmod 236 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 236 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 236 is represented as -w--wxrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=wx,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: