chmod 605 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 605 gives the owner read/write, the group no access, and everyone else read/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 0 | |||
| Others (o) | 5 |
chmod 605 filename
chmod 605 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Group (g) | 0 |
--- |
No access | Cannot list, enter, or modify |
| Others (o) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
Is chmod 605 Safe?
Low Risk
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
605 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 605 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 605 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=,o=rx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 605 /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 605 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw----r-x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 172 makes new directories 605. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 605 mean?
chmod 605 gives the owner read/write, the group no access, and everyone else read/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 0 (no access), and others receive 5 (read/execute).
Is chmod 605 safe?
chmod 605 is classified as Low Risk. Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
What is chmod 605 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 605 is represented as rw----r-x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=,o=rx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: