chmod 747 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 747 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read, and everyone else read/write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 4 | |||
| Others (o) | 7 |
chmod 747 filename
chmod 747 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Others (o) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
Is chmod 747 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace 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
747 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 755.
chmod 747 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 747 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=r,o=rwx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 747 /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 747 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwxr--rwx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 030 makes new directories 747. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 747 mean?
chmod 747 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read, and everyone else read/write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 4 (read), and others receive 7 (read/write/execute).
Is chmod 747 safe?
chmod 747 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 747 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 747 is represented as rwxr--rwx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=r,o=rwx filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: