444
Octal
r--r--r--
Symbolic
Safe
Security
What does chmod 444 mean?
chmod 444 gives read-only for everyone. Everyone can read, nobody can write. Useful for files that must not change, such as published config snapshots. The owner (and root) can still change the permissions back.
| Who | Digit | Symbolic | Permissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (user) | 4 | r-- | read |
| Group | 4 | r-- | read |
| Others | 4 | r-- | read |
Each digit is the sum of read (4), write (2) and execute (1). In ls -l the file shows as -r--r--r--.
How to use chmod 444
# one file or directory
chmod 444 filename
# the same permissions in symbolic form
chmod u=r,g=r,o=r filename
# a directory and everything inside it
chmod -R 444 directory/
# only regular files
find path/ -type f -exec chmod 444 {} +Need a different combination? Tick the boxes in the chmod calculator to get the octal and symbolic values instantly.
Chmod calculatorToggle read, write and execute for owner, group and others to build any permission.
Open the calculator Frequently asked questions
What does chmod 444 do?
It sets the permissions to r--r--r--: the owner gets read, the group read and others read.
What is 444 in symbolic notation?
r--r--r--, or chmod u=r,g=r,o=r as a symbolic chmod command.Is chmod 444 safe?
Yes, 444 does not give write access to other users.