chmod 244 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 244 gives the owner write, the group read, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 4 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 244 filename
chmod 244 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) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Others (o) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 244 Safe?
Low Risk
- 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
244 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 244 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 244 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=r,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 244 /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 244 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w-r--r-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 533 makes new directories 244 and new files 244. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 244 mean?
chmod 244 gives the owner write, the group read, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 4 (read), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 244 safe?
chmod 244 is classified as Low Risk. Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
What is chmod 244 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 244 is represented as -w-r--r--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=r,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: