chmod 716 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 716 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 1 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 716 filename
chmod 716 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 716 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
716 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 754.
chmod 716 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 716 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=x,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 716 /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 716 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx--xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 061 makes new directories 716. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 716 mean?
chmod 716 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 1 (execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 716 safe?
chmod 716 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 716 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 716 is represented as rwx--xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=x,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: