Linux – File and Folder Permission Introduction

Linux Permissions are much more simple than what is provided in Windows Active Directory. You have 3 permission types that you can apply to 3 groups. The permissions are Read, Write and Execute which can be applied to the file/folder Owner, the Group Owner and Everyone.

Permission Grouping

  • Permissions are applied by Owner/ Group Owner/ Everyone
  • To view permissions and owners use ls -l command in a folder.

Permissions

  • Execute – Allows script execution
  • Read – Allows the ability to read
  • Write – Allows to modify, rename and even delete

Permission Numbers

  • Execute = 1
  • Write = 2
  • Read = 4

Simply add numbers together to get cumulative permissions.

  • 0 = – – –
  • 1 = – – x
  • 2 = – w –
  • 3 = – w x
  • 4 = r – –
  • 5 = r – x
  • 6 = r w –
  • 7 = r w x

Examples

  • 777 = Owner, Members of Group Owner, Everyone have Full Control
  • 764 = Owner has Full Control, Group has Read and Write, Everyone has Read
  • 740 = Owner has Full Control, Group can Read, Everyone can do nothing.

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