chmod 472 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 472 gives the owner read, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 472 filename
chmod 472 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 472 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
472 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 472 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 472 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=rwx,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 472 /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 472 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r--rwx-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 305 makes new directories 472. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 472 mean?
chmod 472 gives the owner read, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 472 safe?
chmod 472 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 472 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 472 is represented as r--rwx-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=rwx,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: