chmod 522 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 522 gives the owner read/execute, the group write, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 522 filename
chmod 522 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Group (g) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 522 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
522 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 500.
chmod 522 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 522 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rx,g=w,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 522 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 522 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r-x-w--w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 255 makes new directories 522. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 522 mean?
chmod 522 gives the owner read/execute, the group write, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 5 (read/execute), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 522 safe?
chmod 522 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 522 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 522 is represented as r-x-w--w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rx,g=w,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: