chmod 416 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 416 gives the owner read, the group execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 416 filename
chmod 416 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 416 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.
- 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
416 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 400.
chmod 416 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 416 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=x,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 416 /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 416 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r----xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 361 makes new directories 416. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 416 mean?
chmod 416 gives the owner read, the group execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 416 safe?
chmod 416 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 416 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 416 is represented as r----xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=x,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: