chmod 620 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 620 gives the owner read/write, the group write, and everyone else no access.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 0 |
chmod 620 filename
chmod 620 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Group (g) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Others (o) | 0 |
--- |
No access | Cannot list, enter, or modify |
Is chmod 620 Safe?
Moderate
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
Common Use Cases
620 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 600.
chmod 620 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 620 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=w,o= filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 620 /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 620 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw--w---- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 157 makes new directories 620 and new files 620. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 620 mean?
chmod 620 gives the owner read/write, the group write, and everyone else no access. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 0 (no access).
Is chmod 620 safe?
chmod 620 is classified as Moderate. Every member of the group can modify this file.
What is chmod 620 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 620 is represented as rw--w----. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=w,o= filename".
Related Permissions
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