File permissions·064
064
---rw-r--
----rw-r--

chmod 064 — the ---rw-r-- permission

064 is ---rw-r--. The owner can do nothing, and everyone else gets r.

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·
Others4··

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-r--
ls -l (file)
----rw-r--
ls -l (directory)
d---rw-r--
chmod symbolic form
chmod u=,g=rw,o=r
Command
chmod 064 <file>
Binary
000110100
Decimal
52
umask (directory)
713
umask (file)
602

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 064 mean?

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

Q. How is 064 written in rwx form?

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

Q. What can other people do with 064?

They get r--.

Q. Which umask produces 064?

713 for directories. The same 602 gives it for files too.