chmod 633 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 633 gives the owner read/write, the group write/execute, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 633 filename
chmod 633 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Group (g) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
| Others (o) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 633 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
633 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 633 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 633 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=wx,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 633 /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 633 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw--wx-wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 144 makes new directories 633. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 633 mean?
chmod 633 gives the owner read/write, the group write/execute, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 633 safe?
chmod 633 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 633 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 633 is represented as rw--wx-wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=wx,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: