File and folder Permissions

Permissions are set using a command called CHMOD. CHMOD stands for CHange MODe. You are giving the host computer new instructions about this file or directory.

CHMOD comes as a set of 3 numbers. Each of these 3 numbers is a sum total of 3 other numbers. So you have to add 3 numbers to get the first CHMOD number, add 3 numbers to get the second CHMOD number and add 3 numbers to get the third CHMOD number.

Understanding the numbers...

Each digit is a number value from 0 to 7. The value specifies what capabilities are available (or not). These numbers correspond to 3 command types. Read, write and execute.

Read (r) has a value of 4. It allows listing files in the directory.
Write (w) has a value of 2. It allows the addition of new files to the directory.
Execute (x) has a value of 1. It allows access to the files in the directory.

Here are the possible combinations available using these command types :

Digit
rwx
Result
0
---
no access
1
--x
execute
2
-w-
Write
3
-wx
Write and execute
4
r--
Read
5
r-x
read and execute
6
rw-
read and write
7
rwx
read write execute

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