chmod 625 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 625 gives the owner read/write, the group write, and everyone else read/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 5 |
chmod 625 filename
chmod 625 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) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
Is chmod 625 Safe?
Moderate
- Every member of the group can modify 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
625 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 664.
chmod 625 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 625 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=w,o=rx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 625 /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 625 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw--w-r-x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 152 makes new directories 625. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 625 mean?
chmod 625 gives the owner read/write, the group write, and everyone else read/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 5 (read/execute).
Is chmod 625 safe?
chmod 625 is classified as Moderate. Every member of the group can modify this file.
What is chmod 625 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 625 is represented as rw--w-r-x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=w,o=rx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: