chmod 253 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 253 gives the owner write, the group read/execute, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 253 filename
chmod 253 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) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Others (o) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 253 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
253 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 755.
chmod 253 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 253 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=rx,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 253 /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 253 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w-r-x-wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 524 makes new directories 253. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 253 mean?
chmod 253 gives the owner write, the group read/execute, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 253 safe?
chmod 253 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 253 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 253 is represented as -w-r-x-wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=rx,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: