chmod 736 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 736 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 736 filename
chmod 736 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 736 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
736 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 736 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 736 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=wx,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 736 /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 736 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx-wxrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 041 makes new directories 736. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 736 mean?
chmod 736 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 736 safe?
chmod 736 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 736 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 736 is represented as rwx-wxrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=wx,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
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