chmod 526 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 526 gives the owner read/execute, the group write, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 526 filename
chmod 526 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 526 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
526 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 526 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 526 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rx,g=w,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 526 /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 526 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r-x-w-rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 251 makes new directories 526. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 526 mean?
chmod 526 gives the owner read/execute, the group write, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 5 (read/execute), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 526 safe?
chmod 526 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 526 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 526 is represented as r-x-w-rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rx,g=w,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: