chmod 623 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 623 gives the owner read/write, the group write, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 623 filename
chmod 623 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) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 623 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
623 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 600.
chmod 623 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 623 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=w,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 623 /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 623 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw--w--wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 154 makes new directories 623. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 623 mean?
chmod 623 gives the owner read/write, the group write, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 623 safe?
chmod 623 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 623 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 623 is represented as rw--w--wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=w,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: