chmod 712 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 712 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 712 filename
chmod 712 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 1 |
--x |
Execute only | Can enter (cd) but not list contents |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 712 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
712 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 700.
chmod 712 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 712 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=x,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 712 /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 712 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx--x-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 065 makes new directories 712. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 712 mean?
chmod 712 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 712 safe?
chmod 712 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 712 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 712 is represented as rwx--x-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=x,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: