chmod 500 meaning

500 r-x------

The owner can read and execute; the group and everyone else can do nothing.

When to use 500

Read-only private folders or scripts: only the owner can read or run them, and nobody can change them.

What each digit allows

Read = 4, write = 2, execute = 1. Each digit is the sum for one group of users.

Who	Digit	Symbolic	Read	Write	Execute
Owner (u)	5	r-x	Yes	No	Yes
Group (g)	0	---	No	No	No
Others (o)	0	---	No	No	No

On a folder, read lists its contents, write adds or deletes files in it, and execute lets you open it (cd into it).

Commands

One file or folder, a folder with everything inside it, or only the folders inside a folder:

chmod 500 folder
chmod -R 500 folder/
find folder/ -type d -exec chmod 500 {} +

In cPanel: File Manager → right-click → Change Permissions, and tick the boxes until the number shows 500.

Try other permissions

Tick or untick the boxes to see the number, the symbolic form and the command.

	Read	Write	Execute
Owner
Group
Everyone else

Special bits (setuid, setgid, sticky)

setuid setgid sticky

Common values

Octal

Symbolic

Command

-R

Compare

Frequently asked questions

What does chmod 500 mean?

Each digit is the sum of read (4), write (2) and execute (1), for the owner, the group and everyone else. 500 = 5 / 0 / 0, so the owner can read and execute; the group and everyone else can do nothing (r-x------).

Should I use 500 for files or for folders?

500 includes execute, which on a folder means "may open it". It suits folders and scripts; for ordinary files use the same number without execute (400).

How do I set 500 in cPanel?

In File Manager, right-click the file or folder, choose Change Permissions, and tick the boxes so the number shows 500. Over SSH: chmod 500 path (add -R to include everything inside a folder).