chmod 655 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 655 gives the owner read/write, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 5 |
chmod 655 filename
chmod 655 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) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
Is chmod 655 Safe?
Low Risk
- 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
655 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 755.
chmod 655 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 655 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=rx,o=rx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 655 /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 655 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw-r-xr-x 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 122 makes new directories 655. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 655 mean?
chmod 655 gives the owner read/write, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 5 (read/execute).
Is chmod 655 safe?
chmod 655 is classified as Low Risk. Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
What is chmod 655 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 655 is represented as rw-r-xr-x. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=rx,o=rx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: