File permissions·111
111
--x--x--x
---x--x--x

chmod 111 — the --x--x--x permission

111 is --x--x--x. The owner gets x, and everyone else gets x.

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
Owner1··
Group1··
Others1··

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
--x--x--x
ls -l (file)
---x--x--x
ls -l (directory)
d--x--x--x
chmod symbolic form
chmod u=x,g=x,o=x
Command
chmod 111 <file>
Binary
001001001
Decimal
73
umask (directory)
666
umask (file)
Not reachable — new files never start with the execute bit

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 111 mean?

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

Q. How is 111 written in rwx form?

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

Q. What can other people do with 111?

They get --x.

Q. Which umask produces 111?

666 for directories. For files it cannot be reached by umask alone, since new files never carry the execute bit.