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Systems & Data Center · Foundational

Linux File Permissions

The read, write and execute (rwx) access bits that Linux assigns separately to a file's owner, group and others.

Definition

For files, r allows reading, w allows modifying and x allows execution. For directories, r lists contents, w creates or deletes entries and x allows entering (traversing) the directory. Permissions are displayed by ls -l and changed with chmod.

Example

-rwxr-x--- means the owner can read, write and execute, the group can read and execute, and others have no access.

Exam tip

Directory execute permission is required to cd into a directory or access files inside it, even if the file itself is readable.

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