chmod 612 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 612 gives the owner read/write, the group execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 612 filename
chmod 612 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Group (g) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 612 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
612 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 600.
chmod 612 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 612 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=x,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 612 /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 612 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw---x-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 165 makes new directories 612. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 612 mean?
chmod 612 gives the owner read/write, the group execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 612 safe?
chmod 612 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 612 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 612 is represented as rw---x-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=x,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: