(coreutils.info)Symbolic Modes

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27.2 Symbolic Modes
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“Symbolic modes” represent changes to files’ mode bits as operations on
single-character symbols.  They allow you to modify either all or
selected parts of files’ mode bits, optionally based on their previous
values, and perhaps on the current ‘umask’ as well (Note: Umask and
Protection).

   The format of symbolic modes is:

     [ugoa...][-+=]PERMS...[,...]

where PERMS is either zero or more letters from the set ‘rwxXst’, or a
single letter from the set ‘ugo’.

   The following sections describe the operators and other details of
symbolic modes.

Setting Permissions

Basic operations on permissions.

Copying Permissions

Copying existing permissions.

Changing Special Mode Bits

Special mode bits.

Conditional Executability

Conditionally affecting executability.

Multiple Changes

Making multiple changes.

Umask and Protection

The effect of the umask.