chmod 616 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 616 gives the owner read/write, the group execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 616 filename
chmod 616 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 616 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
616 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 616 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 616 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=x,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 616 /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 616 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw---xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 161 makes new directories 616. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 616 mean?
chmod 616 gives the owner read/write, the group execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 616 safe?
chmod 616 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 616 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 616 is represented as rw---xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=x,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: