So if all permissions are turned on and this is a regular file, the mode will look like this: -rwxrwxrwx. If it was a directory with all permissions turned off for others and full permissions for user and group, it would be drwxrwx--.
Table 7.1: Permissions in Linux +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Code | Name | Allows for Files | Allows for Directories | |------+---------+--------------------------+----------------------------------| | r | read | Examine contents of file | List contents of directory | |------+---------+--------------------------+----------------------------------| | w | write | Modify file | Add or remove files in directory | |------+---------+--------------------------+----------------------------------| | x | execute | Run as a command | Access files in directory | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Table 7.1 describes the meaning of the read, write, and execute permissions for both files and directories.
Directory modes can be a little confusing, so here are some examples of the effects of various combinations:
The user, group, or other with these permissions may list the contents of the directory, but can do nothing else. The files in the directory can’t be read, changed, deleted, or manipulated in any way. The only permitted action is reading the directory itself, that is, seeing what files it contains.
Write permission has no effect in the absence of execute permission, so this mode behaves just like the above mode.
This mode permits the files in a directory to be listed and permits access to those files. However, files can’t be created or deleted. Access means that you can view, change, or execute the files as permitted by the files’ own permissions.
Files in this directory can be accessed, but the contents of the directory can’t be listed, so you have to know what filename you’re looking for in advance (unless you’re exceptionally good at guessing). Files can’t be created or deleted.
You can do anything you want with the files in this directory, as long as it’s permitted by the permissions on the files themselves.
Directory write permission determines whether you can delete files in a directory. A read-only file can be deleted if you have permission to write to the directory containing it. You can’t delete a file from a read-only directory even if you’re allowed to make changes to the file.