chmod 706 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 706 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group no access, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 0 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 706 filename
chmod 706 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 0 |
--- |
No access | Cannot list, enter, or modify |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 706 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
706 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 700.
chmod 706 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 706 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 706 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 706 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx---rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 071 makes new directories 706. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 706 mean?
chmod 706 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group no access, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 0 (no access), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 706 safe?
chmod 706 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 706 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 706 is represented as rwx---rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: