chmod 756 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 756 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 5 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 756 filename
chmod 756 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 756 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
756 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 754.
chmod 756 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 756 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=rx,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 756 /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 756 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwxr-xrw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 021 makes new directories 756. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 756 mean?
chmod 756 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/execute, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 5 (read/execute), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 756 safe?
chmod 756 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 756 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 756 is represented as rwxr-xrw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=rx,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: