chmod 656 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 656 gives the owner read/write, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 656 filename
chmod 656 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 656 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace 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
656 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 656 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 656 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=rx,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 656 /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 656 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw-r-xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 121 makes new directories 656. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 656 mean?
chmod 656 gives the owner read/write, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 656 safe?
chmod 656 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 656 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 656 is represented as rw-r-xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=rx,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: