File permissions·760
760
rwxrw----
-rwxrw----

chmod 760 — the rwxrw---- permission

760 is rwxrw----. 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
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
rwxrw----
ls -l (file)
-rwxrw----
ls -l (directory)
drwxrw----
chmod symbolic form
chmod u=rwx,g=rw,o=
Command
chmod 760 <file>
Binary
111110000
Decimal
496
umask (directory)
017
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 760 mean?

It is rwxrw----. ls -l shows a file as -rwxrw---- and a directory as drwxrw----.

Q. How is 760 written in rwx form?

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

Q. What can other people do with 760?

Nothing. Only the owner and the group get in.

Q. Which umask produces 760?

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