Linux File Permissions Simplified In This Complete Guide!

0 min read

Linux is a powerful and versatile multi-user operating system that is widely used by multiple businesses and individuals around the world. One of the key features of Linux is its advanced file permission system, which provides users with a high degree of control over how files are accessed, modified, and shared.

In this article, we will discuss Linux file permissions in detail. This includes the various types of permissions, how to change file permissions in Linux, manage them, how to represent them, and more.

What Are Linux File Permissions?

File permissions are an integral part of the Linux system security model. They specify who can do what with a file or directories on a system and how. Linux file permissions are based on three distinct types of permissions: read, write, and execute. In other words, these Linux permissions are a set of attributes that determine who can access a file or directory, and what they can do with it.

Types Of Linux File Permissions

The Linux file permissions are designed to provide security by preventing unauthorized access to sensitive files and directories. There are three types of permissions and each of these is represented by a single letter, as follows:

• r (read): This permission authorizes a user to read file content.

• w (write): This permission allows users to change file details and content.

• x (execute): This permission allows a user to execute a file, such as a script or a program.

These file or directory permissions are assigned to three different categories of users:

• Owner: The owner is the one who created the user file and has the ability to modify or delete the file. By default, the owner is the user who created the file type.

• Group: A group is a collection of users who have been granted access to a set of files or directories. The group permission is assigned to all members of the group.

• Others: The other kinds of file permissions are assigned to all users who are not the owner or members of the group.

Representation Of Linux Permissions

In Linux, permissions are represented by a string of ten characters. The first character represents the file type, either a "-" for a regular file or "d" for a directory. The remaining nine characters are grouped into sets of three, representing the permissions for the owner, group, and others, respectively.

How to check file permissions in Linux?

The types of file permissions are represented by three characters, "r," "w," and "x." The presence of the letter indicates that the permission is enabled, while the absence of the letter indicates that the permission is disabled.

Here's an example of how the permissions for a file might look:

-rw-r--r-- 1 user group 4096 Mar 7 2023 myfile.txt

In this example, the user shows the file ownership of the reference file "user" and belongs to the group "group". The permissions for the owner are read and write (-rw-), and the permissions for the group and others are read-only (r--).

Octal Values

In Linux file permissions, octal values are a shorthand representation of file permission modes that simplify the process of setting permissions. Octal values are often used with the chmod command to specify permissions for files and directories.

Octal values are base 8 numbers, which means they use the numbers 0 to 7 to represent different combinations of file permissions. Each number corresponds to the read, write, and execute permissions for the owner, group, and others, respectively. The numbers are calculated by adding the values of the permissions you want to set:

• 4 for read permission
• 2 for write permission
• 1 for execute permission

To calculate the octal value for a set of file permissions, you add the values of the permissions that are granted. For example:

• rwx (read, write, and execute permissions) has an octal value of 7 (4 + 2 + 1 = 7)
• rw- (read and write permissions, no execute permission) has an octal value of 6 (4 + 2 + 0 = 6)
• r-- (read permission, no write or execute permission) has an octal value of 4 (4 + 0 + 0 = 4)
• --- (no read, write, or execute permission) has an octal value of 0 (0 + 0 + 0 = 0)

To use octal values to set file permissions, you use the chmod command with a three-digit octal value. The first digit represents the permissions for the owner, the second digit represents the permissions for the group, and the third digit represents the permissions for others.

For example, to set read, write, and execute permissions for the owner, and read-only permissions for the group and others, you would use the following command:

chmod 750 filename

In this command, the first digit (7) represents the permissions for the owner (read, write, and execute), the second digit (5) represents the permissions for the group (read and execute), and the third digit (0) represents the permissions for others (no permission).

Overall, octal values are a useful shorthand method for representing Linux file permissions, and they can simplify the process of setting file permissions. However, it is important to understand how they work and what values correspond to different combinations of file permissions.

Managing File Permissions In Linux

Managing file permissions in Linux is an important part of maintaining system security and controlling access to files and directories. There are several tools and techniques you can use to manage file permissions in Linux, including the following:

• chmod: You can use chmod to grant or revoke read, write, and execute permissions for the owner, group, and others. The syntax for using chmod is-
  

  chmod [permissions] [file or directory]

• chown: You can use chown to transfer ownership of a file or directory to another user or group. The syntax for using chown is-
  

  chown [owner]:[group] [file or directory]

• chgrp: You can use chgrp to assign a file or directory to a different group. The syntax for using chgrp is-

  chgrp [group] [file or directory]

• umask: The umask command is used to set the default permissions for new files and directories. You can use umask to specify which permissions are removed by default when new files and directories are created. The syntax for using umask is-

  umask [permissions]

These are some of the most common tools and techniques used to manage file permissions in Linux. By using these commands, you can control access to files and directories, transfer ownership of files, and set default permissions for new files and directories. With careful management of file permissions, you can help ensure the security and integrity of your Linux system.

Also read - Prepare For Linux Interview Questions

How To Change Permissions Of File In Linux?

In Linux, file and directory permissions are modified or changed using the chmod command. The chmod command is a basic command that allows you to modify the permissions of a file or directory or any other additional file by changing the read, write, and execute permissions for the file owner, group, and others.

The following are the ways to use the chmod command:

Absolute Mode

In absolute mode, you set the permissions explicitly using a three-digit number. Each digit represents the permissions for the file owner, group, and others, respectively.

The digits are calculated by adding up the values of the user permissions you want to set. The value of each user permission is as follows:

• 4 for read permission
• 2 for write permission
• 1 for execute permission

For example, to set read and write permissions for the file owner, read-only permission for the group, and no permission for others, you would use the following basic command:

chmod 640 file.txt

In this command, the first digit (6) represents the owner permission, which is read and write (4 + 2 = 6). The second digit (4) represents the permissions for the group, which is read-only (4 + 0 = 4). The third digit (0) represents the permissions on files, which is no permission (0 + 0 + 0 = 0).

Symbolic Mode

In symbolic mode, you use symbols to add or remove permissions. The symbols used in symbolic mode are as follows:

• "+" adds the specified permissions
• "-" removes the specified permissions
• "=" sets the specified permissions and removes all others
• "r" for read permission
• "w" for write permission
• "x" for execute permission

For example, to add execute permission for the owner and group and remove all permissions for others, you would use the following command:

Basic syntax: chmod u+x,g+x,o-rwx file.txt

In this command, "u" represents the owner, "g" represents the group, and "o" represents others. The "+x" adds execute permission for the owner and group, and "-rwx" removes all permissions for others.

Recursive Mode

The recursive mode can also be used for the chmod command to change the permissions of a directory and all of its contents. To do this, use the "-R" option with the chmod command.

For example, to set read and write permissions for the owner, read-only permission for the group, and no permission for others for all files and directories in the "mydir" directory, you would use the following command:

Basic syntax: chmod -R 640 mydir

This command sets the permissions for all files and directories in "mydir" recursively.

Conclusion

Linux file permissions are an essential aspect of the operating system that allows you to control access to files and directories. The chmod command is used to change file permissions in Linux, and you can use either absolute mode or symbolic mode to do so. Also, the chmod command can be used in recursive mode to modify the permissions of a directory and all of its contents. Understanding file permissions, how to give permission to folder in Linux, and how to change them is crucial for managing files and directories in Linux.

You might also be interested in reading the following:

1. How To Delete A File In Linux | How To Remove A Directory
2. Most Important Linux Commands And Their Syntax (With Examples)
3. How To Unzip A File In Linux | Unzip Syntax | 8 Unzip Commands
4. How To Copy A File in Linux | Linux cp Command | Syntax & Options
5. How To Open A File In Linux Using 3 Different Approaches