chmod 2775 Permission Explained: Shared Group Project Directory
Summary: Group-writable, and new files inherit the group.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 5 |
chmod 2775 filename
chmod 2775 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Special | 2 |
— | setgid (directory inherits group) | |
Is chmod 2775 Safe?
Moderate
- Runs with the group's privileges (on directories: new files inherit the group).
- 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.
When not to use it
- Directories exposed to untrusted external users
Common Use Cases
- Collaborative team project repositories and shared shared web roots
- Deployment directories accessed by multiple developers and CI/CD service users
chmod 2775 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 2775 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=rx,g+s filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 2775 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 2775 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwxrwsr-x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 002 makes new directories 2775. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 2775 mean?
Group-writable, and new files inherit the group. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 5 (read/execute).
Is chmod 2775 safe?
chmod 2775 is classified as Moderate. Runs with the group's privileges (on directories: new files inherit the group).
What is chmod 2775 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 2775 is represented as rwxrwsr-x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=rx,g+s filename".
Why use 2775 instead of 775?
While mode 775 allows group members to write to a directory, newly created files normally inherit the creating user's personal primary group, locking out other teammates. Adding the setgid bit (2775) forces all newly created files and subdirectories to automatically inherit the parent directory's group ownership, ensuring seamless multi-user collaboration.
Related Permissions
Change one bit: