Owner read, write and execute, group read and execute, others read and execute:
7 + 5 + 5 = 755
Symbolic form rwxr-xr-x
Why your number may differ
Special bits such as setuid and sticky are not covered. Avoid giving everyone write access (such as 777) to files on a server.
Frequently asked questions
What do the chmod numbers mean?
Each digit is the sum of read (4), write (2) and execute (1). The three digits are for the owner, the group and others. So 7 is read, write and execute, and 5 is read and execute.
What is chmod 755?
The owner can read, write and execute. The group and others can read and execute. It is common for programs and folders.
What is chmod 644?
The owner can read and write, and everyone else can only read. It is common for ordinary files such as web pages.