chmod 426 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 426 gives the owner read, the group write, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 426 filename
chmod 426 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Group (g) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 426 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify 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
426 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 426 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 426 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=w,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 426 /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 426 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r---w-rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 351 makes new directories 426 and new files 426. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 426 mean?
chmod 426 gives the owner read, the group write, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 426 safe?
chmod 426 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 426 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 426 is represented as r---w-rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=w,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: