Chmod 652 Explained
Chmod 652: an unusual permission with owner rw, group rx, others write-only. Understand this uncommon permission set.
Permission
652
rw-r-x-w-
chmod 652 filename
Permission Breakdown
| Role | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | r | w | - | 6 | read, write |
| Group | r | - | x | 5 | read, execute |
| Others | - | w | - | 2 | write |
Visual Permission Grid
Detailed Explanation
The permission 652 is an uncommon combination giving the owner read-write, group read-execute, and others write-only access.
Octal breakdown:
- 6 (Owner): read (4) + write (2) = read and write
- 5 (Group): read (4) + execute (1) = read and execute
- 2 (Others): write (2) only
In symbolic notation this is rw-r-x-w-. The owner can read and modify the file. Group members can read and execute it. Others can only write to it but cannot read or execute.
This is a very unusual permission set that rarely makes practical sense for regular files. The write-only access for others means they can append data but cannot read what was written. This could theoretically serve a niche use case for a file that accepts anonymous input while being managed by the owner and executed by a specific group.
Use Case
A theoretical edge case: files that accept anonymous submissions (write-only for others) while being managed by the owner and executed by group members.