chmod 750 rwxr-x---

chmod 750 (rwxr-x---): the owner can read, write and execute, the group read and execute, others do nothing. Commands, umask and security notes.

Octal: 750 (also written 0750)
Symbolic: rwxr-x---
ls -l shows: -rwxr-x--- for a file, drwxr-x--- for a directory
chmod letters: u=rwx,g=rx,o=

Who can do what

Class	Digit	Bits	On a file	On a directory
Owner (u)	7	`rwx`	Read the contents, change or empty the contents and run it as a program	List the names inside, create, delete and rename entries and enter it and open files by name
Group (g)	5	`r-x`	Read the contents and run it as a program	List the names inside and enter it and open files by name
Others (o)	0	`---`	Nothing	Nothing

Each digit adds read (4), write (2) and execute (1). Deleting or renaming a file depends on write and execute on the directory that holds it, not on the file's own mode. Root bypasses read and write checks.

Typical uses

The owner has full access, the group can list and enter, others get nothing. Ubuntu has created new home directories as 750 since 21.04, and it suits application directories a service group needs to read. WordPress lists 750 or 755 for directories.

Security notes

Only the owner (and root) can change it; the group and others are limited to the read and execute rights shown above, which is the usual safe pattern for shared files and directories.

Commands

Numeric
chmod 750 file
Symbolic
chmod u=rwx,g=rx,o= file
Check the result
stat -c '%a %A %n' file
Directories only, recursively
find /path -type d -exec chmod 750 {} +

Avoid chmod -R 750 on a tree that holds files as well as folders: it makes every file executable. Use the find command above for directories and a file mode such as 640 for the files.

The umask that gives 750

umask 027: new directories are created as 750 (and files as 640)

Programs create files with 666 and directories with 777, and the umask removes bits from those. A umask never adds execute to a new file, and it cannot set setuid, setgid or the sticky bit.

Its file counterpart is chmod 640 (rw-r-----).

Other common modes

Work out any other mode in the chmod calculator