chmod 723 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 723 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 723 filename
chmod 723 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) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 723 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
723 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 723 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 723 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=w,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 723 /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 723 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx-w--wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 054 makes new directories 723. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 723 mean?
chmod 723 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 723 safe?
chmod 723 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 723 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 723 is represented as rwx-w--wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=w,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: