chmod 474 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 474 gives the owner read, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 4 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 474 filename
chmod 474 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) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 474 Safe?
Moderate
- 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
474 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 664.
chmod 474 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 474 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=r,g=rwx,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 474 /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 474 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r--rwxr-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 303 makes new directories 474. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 474 mean?
chmod 474 gives the owner read, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 4 (read), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 474 safe?
chmod 474 is classified as Moderate. Every member of the group can modify this file.
What is chmod 474 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 474 is represented as r--rwxr--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=r,g=rwx,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: