chmod 722 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 722 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 722 filename
chmod 722 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 722 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
Common Use Cases
722 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 700.
chmod 722 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 722 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=w,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 722 /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 722 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx-w--w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 055 makes new directories 722. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 722 mean?
chmod 722 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 722 safe?
chmod 722 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 722 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 722 is represented as rwx-w--w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=w,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: