chmod 772 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 772 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 2 |
chmod 772 filename
chmod 772 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
Is chmod 772 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
Common Use Cases
772 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 770.
chmod 772 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 772 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=w filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 772 /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 772 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwxrwx-w- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 005 makes new directories 772. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 772 mean?
chmod 772 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 2 (write).
Is chmod 772 safe?
chmod 772 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 772 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 772 is represented as rwxrwx-w-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=w filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: