File permissions·404
404
r-----r--
-r-----r--

chmod 404 — the r-----r-- permission

404 is r-----r--. The owner gets r, 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
Owner4··
Group0···
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
r-----r--
ls -l (file)
-r-----r--
ls -l (directory)
dr-----r--
chmod symbolic form
chmod u=r,g=,o=r
Command
chmod 404 <file>
Binary
100000100
Decimal
260
umask (directory)
373
umask (file)
262

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 404 mean?

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

Q. How is 404 written in rwx form?

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

Q. What can other people do with 404?

They get r--.

Q. Which umask produces 404?

373 for directories. The same 262 gives it for files too.