chmod 651 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 651 gives the owner read/write, the group read/execute, and everyone else execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 1 |
chmod 651 filename
chmod 651 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Group (g) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Others (o) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
Is chmod 651 Safe?
Low Risk
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
651 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 755.
chmod 651 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 651 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=rx,o=x filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 651 /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 651 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw-r-x--x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 126 makes new directories 651. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 651 mean?
chmod 651 gives the owner read/write, the group read/execute, and everyone else execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 1 (execute).
Is chmod 651 safe?
chmod 651 is classified as Low Risk. Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
What is chmod 651 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 651 is represented as rw-r-x--x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=rx,o=x filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: