chmod 346 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 346 gives the owner write/execute, the group read, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 3 | |||
| Group (g) | 4 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 346 filename
chmod 346 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) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 346 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
346 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 744.
chmod 346 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 346 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=wx,g=r,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 346 /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 346 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--wxr--rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 431 makes new directories 346. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 346 mean?
chmod 346 gives the owner write/execute, the group read, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 3 (write/execute), the group receives 4 (read), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 346 safe?
chmod 346 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 346 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 346 is represented as -wxr--rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=wx,g=r,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: