Chmod Explainer Tool

<p>Convert numeric chmod permissions (e.g., 755) to symbolic notation (e.g., rwxr-xr-x) and vice versa. Understand Linux file permissions with detailed explanations.</p>

Chmod Permission Converter

🔢Numeric to Symbolic

🔤Symbolic to Numeric

📚Understanding Chmod Permissions

User (Owner)

rwx

File owner's permissions

Group

r-x

Group members' permissions

Others

r-x

Everyone else's permissions

Permission Characters:

  • r = Read permission
  • w = Write permission
  • x = Execute permission
  • - = No permission

Numeric Values:

  • 4 = Read (r)
  • 2 = Write (w)
  • 1 = Execute (x)
  • 0 = No permission (-)

💡Common Permission Examples

755
rwxr-xr-x

Directory permissions (common for web folders)

644
rw-r--r--

File permissions (readable by all, writable by owner)

777
rwxrwxrwx

Full permissions (use with caution!)

600
rw-------

Owner only (common for private files)

750
rwxr-x---

Owner and group (common for scripts)

400
r--------

Read-only (common for config files)

⚠️Security Best Practices

❌ Avoid These:

  • • Using 777 permissions (too permissive)
  • • Giving write access to others (666)
  • • Making sensitive files world-readable
  • • Using 000 permissions (can cause issues)

✅ Recommended:

  • • 755 for directories (rwxr-xr-x)
  • • 644 for regular files (rw-r--r--)
  • • 600 for private files (rw-------)
  • • 750 for group-shared content (rwxr-x---)

What is chmod?

chmod (change mode) is a command-line utility in Unix and Linux systems used to change the access permissions of files and directories. Permissions control who can read, write, or execute a file.

Understanding File Permissions

File permissions in Linux are represented in two ways:

  • Symbolic notation: Uses letters like rwxr-xr-x
  • Numeric notation: Uses octal numbers like 755

Both notations represent the same permissions for three categories: Owner, Group, and Others.

Permission Categories

  • Owner: The user who owns the file has full control over permissions
  • Group: Users in the same group as the file
  • Others: All other users on the system

Common Use Cases

Directories

Use 755 (rwxr-xr-x) for directories that need to be accessible by others

Scripts

Use 755 (rwxr-xr-x) for executable scripts

Config Files

Use 644 (rw-r--r--) for configuration files

Private Files

Use 600 (rw-------) for sensitive files

Stay Updated with Linux Concepts

Get the latest Linux tips, tutorials, and tool updates delivered to your inbox. Join our community of Linux enthusiasts and professionals.

No spam, unsubscribe at any time. We respect your privacy.