File permissions·060
060
---rw----
----rw----

chmod 060 — the ---rw---- permission

060 is ---rw----. The owner can do nothing, and everyone else is shut out.

Who can do what

Three rows for owner, group and others; three columns for read, write and execute. On a folder that last one means the right to go inside.

ReadWriteExecute
Owner0···
Group6·
Others0···

On a folder the execute bit means going inside. With read but no execute you can list the names yet open nothing in it.

Symbolic
---rw----
ls -l (file)
----rw----
ls -l (directory)
d---rw----
chmod symbolic form
chmod u=,g=rw,o=
Command
chmod 060 <file>
Binary
000110000
Decimal
48
umask (directory)
717
umask (file)
606

One digit away

How to read this

  • Read is 4, write 2, execute 1; add them for one digit. 7 is 4+2+1, 5 is 4+1.
  • The digits are owner, group, others, left to right.
  • umask is what gets taken away: from 777 for directories, from 666 for files.
  • Special bits (setuid 4000, setgid 2000, sticky 1000) add a fourth digit in front — /tmp is 1777.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What does chmod 060 mean?

It is ---rw----. ls -l shows a file as ----rw---- and a directory as d---rw----.

Q. How is 060 written in rwx form?

It is the same as chmod u=,g=rw,o=.

Q. What can other people do with 060?

Nothing. Only the owner and the group get in.

Q. Which umask produces 060?

717 for directories. The same 606 gives it for files too.