chmod 462 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 462 gives the owner read, the group read/write, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 6 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 462 filename
chmod 462 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Group (g) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 462 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- 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
462 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 462 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 462 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=rw,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 462 /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 462 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r--rw--w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 315 makes new directories 462 and new files 462. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 462 mean?
chmod 462 gives the owner read, the group read/write, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 6 (read/write), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 462 safe?
chmod 462 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 462 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 462 is represented as r--rw--w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=rw,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: