chmod 766 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 766 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/write, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 6 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 766 filename
chmod 766 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 766 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.
Common Use Cases
766 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 666.
chmod 766 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 766 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=rw,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 766 /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 766 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwxrw-rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 011 makes new directories 766. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 766 mean?
chmod 766 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/write, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 6 (read/write), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 766 safe?
chmod 766 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 766 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 766 is represented as rwxrw-rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=rw,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: