File permissions·700
700
rwx------
-rwx------

chmod 700 — the rwx------ permission

A folder or script only you touch.

700 is rwx------. The owner gets rwx, 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
Owner7
Group0···
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
rwx------
ls -l (file)
-rwx------
ls -l (directory)
drwx------
chmod symbolic form
chmod u=rwx,g=,o=
Command
chmod 700 <file>
Binary
111000000
Decimal
448
umask (directory)
077
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 700 mean?

It is rwx------. ls -l shows a file as -rwx------ and a directory as drwx------.

Q. How is 700 written in rwx form?

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

Q. What can other people do with 700?

Nothing. Only the owner and the group get in.

Q. Which umask produces 700?

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