chmod 237 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 237 gives the owner write, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 7 |
chmod 237 filename
chmod 237 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) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
Is chmod 237 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
237 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 237 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 237 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=wx,o=rwx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 237 /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 237 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w--wxrwx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 540 makes new directories 237. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 237 mean?
chmod 237 gives the owner write, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 7 (read/write/execute).
Is chmod 237 safe?
chmod 237 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 237 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 237 is represented as -w--wxrwx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=wx,o=rwx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: