chmod 312 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 312 gives the owner write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 3 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 312 filename
chmod 312 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
| Group (g) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 312 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Scripts need read permission to run; only compiled binaries can be executed without it.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
312 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 700.
chmod 312 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 312 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=wx,g=x,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 312 /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 312 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--wx--x-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 465 makes new directories 312. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 312 mean?
chmod 312 gives the owner write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 3 (write/execute), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 312 safe?
chmod 312 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 312 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 312 is represented as -wx--x-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=wx,g=x,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: