chmod 532 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 532 gives the owner read/execute, the group write/execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 532 filename
chmod 532 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Group (g) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 532 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
532 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 500.
chmod 532 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 532 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rx,g=wx,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 532 /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 532 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r-x-wx-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txt
umask Relationship
A umask of 245 makes new directories 532. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 532 mean?
chmod 532 gives the owner read/execute, the group write/execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 5 (read/execute), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 532 safe?
chmod 532 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 532 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 532 is represented as r-x-wx-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rx,g=wx,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: