chmod 414 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 414 gives the owner read, the group execute, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 414 filename
chmod 414 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Group (g) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
| Others (o) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 414 Safe?
Low Risk
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
- Even the owner cannot modify this file without changing permissions first.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
414 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 400.
chmod 414 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 414 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=x,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 414 /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 414 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r----xr-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 363 makes new directories 414. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 414 mean?
chmod 414 gives the owner read, the group execute, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 414 safe?
chmod 414 is classified as Low Risk. Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
What is chmod 414 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 414 is represented as r----xr--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=x,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: