chmod 264 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 264 gives the owner write, the group read/write, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 6 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 264 filename
chmod 264 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Others (o) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 264 Safe?
Moderate
- 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
264 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 664.
chmod 264 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 264 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=rw,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 264 /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 264 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w-rw-r-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 513 makes new directories 264 and new files 264. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 264 mean?
chmod 264 gives the owner write, the group read/write, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 6 (read/write), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 264 safe?
chmod 264 is classified as Moderate. Every member of the group can modify this file.
What is chmod 264 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 264 is represented as -w-rw-r--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=rw,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: