chmod 726 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 726 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 2 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 726 filename
chmod 726 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) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 726 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify 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
726 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 726 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 726 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=w,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 726 /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 726 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx-w-rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 051 makes new directories 726. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 726 mean?
chmod 726 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 2 (write), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 726 safe?
chmod 726 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 726 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 726 is represented as rwx-w-rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=w,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: