chmod 606 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 606 gives the owner read/write, the group no access, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 0 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 606 filename
chmod 606 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 606 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- 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
606 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 606 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 606 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 606 /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 606 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw----rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 171 makes new directories 606 and new files 606. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 606 mean?
chmod 606 gives the owner read/write, the group no access, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 0 (no access), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 606 safe?
chmod 606 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 606 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 606 is represented as rw----rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: