chmod 737 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 737 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 3 | |||
| Others (o) | 7 |
chmod 737 filename
chmod 737 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) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
Is chmod 737 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
737 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 737 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 737 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=wx,o=rwx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 737 /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 737 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwx-wxrwx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 040 makes new directories 737. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 737 mean?
chmod 737 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group write/execute, and everyone else read/write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 3 (write/execute), and others receive 7 (read/write/execute).
Is chmod 737 safe?
chmod 737 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 737 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 737 is represented as rwx-wxrwx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=wx,o=rwx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: