Chmod calculator
Tick permissions to get the chmod number and symbolic notation, or type a number to decode it.
Symbolic
Command
How the numbers work
Each digit is the sum of read (4), write (2) and execute (1) for one group: the owner, the group and everyone else. So 7 = 4 + 2 + 1 (rwx), 5 = 4 + 1 (r-x) and 4 = read only.
- 755 (rwxr-xr-x): programs and folders. Owner can change; everyone can read and run.
- 644 (rw-r--r--): normal files. Owner can edit; everyone can read.
- 600 (rw-------): private files such as SSH keys.
- 777: anyone can change it. Almost never the right answer on a server.
Questions
What does chmod 755 mean?
The owner can read, write and execute; the group and everyone else can read and execute.
What permissions should a website use?
Typically 755 for folders and 644 for files, with configuration files that hold secrets set tighter, such as 600 or 640.