chmod 773 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 773 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write/execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 3 |
chmod 773 filename
chmod 773 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) | 3 |
-wx |
Write and execute | Can enter and create/delete files, but not list |
Is chmod 773 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
773 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 777.
chmod 773 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 773 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=wx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 773 /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 773 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwxrwx-wx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 004 makes new directories 773. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 773 mean?
chmod 773 gives the owner read/write/execute, the group read/write/execute, and everyone else write/execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 3 (write/execute).
Is chmod 773 safe?
chmod 773 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 773 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 773 is represented as rwxrwx-wx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=wx filename".
Related Permissions
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