chmod 316 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 316 gives the owner write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 3 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 316 filename
chmod 316 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 316 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
- 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
316 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 754.
chmod 316 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 316 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=wx,g=x,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 316 /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 316 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--wx--xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 461 makes new directories 316. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 316 mean?
chmod 316 gives the owner write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 3 (write/execute), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 316 safe?
chmod 316 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 316 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 316 is represented as -wx--xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=wx,g=x,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: