chmod 614 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 614 gives the owner read/write, the group execute, and everyone else read.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 4 |
chmod 614 filename
chmod 614 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) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
Is chmod 614 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
614 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 614 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 614 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=x,o=r filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 614 /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 614 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw---xr-- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 163 makes new directories 614. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 614 mean?
chmod 614 gives the owner read/write, the group execute, and everyone else read. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 4 (read).
Is chmod 614 safe?
chmod 614 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 614 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 614 is represented as rw---xr--. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=x,o=r filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: