chmod 635 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 635 gives the owner read/write, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 5 |
chmod 635 filename
chmod 635 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) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
Is chmod 635 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
635 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 775.
chmod 635 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 635 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=wx,o=rx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 635 /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 635 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw--wxr-x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 142 makes new directories 635. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 635 mean?
chmod 635 gives the owner read/write, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 5 (read/execute).
Is chmod 635 safe?
chmod 635 is classified as Moderate. Every member of the group can modify this file.
What is chmod 635 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 635 is represented as rw--wxr-x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=wx,o=rx filename".
Related Permissions
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