chmod 266 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 266 gives the owner write, the group read/write, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 6 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 266 filename
chmod 266 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 266 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
266 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 266 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 266 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=rw,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 266 /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 266 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w-rw-rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 511 makes new directories 266 and new files 266. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 266 mean?
chmod 266 gives the owner write, the group read/write, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 6 (read/write), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 266 safe?
chmod 266 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 266 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 266 is represented as -w-rw-rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=rw,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: