chmod 676 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 676 gives the owner read/write, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 676 filename
chmod 676 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 676 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- 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
676 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 676 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 676 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rw,g=rwx,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 676 /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 676 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rw-rwxrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 101 makes new directories 676. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 676 mean?
chmod 676 gives the owner read/write, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 6 (read/write), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 676 safe?
chmod 676 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 676 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 676 is represented as rw-rwxrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rw,g=rwx,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: