Unix Permission Converter
Convert between symbolic (rwxr-xr-x) and octal (755) permission notation — with a full per-audience breakdown.
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Conversion
Type either form above — it converts both ways automatically with a full breakdown.
About this tool
ls -l shows rwxr-xr-x; chmod wants 755. This converter translates both directions automatically — type either form and get the other, plus a table explaining exactly what owner, group and others may do.
Special-bit letters (s, S, t, T) are fully supported, so 4-digit octals like 2775 round-trip correctly.
How to use it
- Type a symbolic string (with or without the leading file-type character) or an octal number.
- The converter detects the format and translates instantly.
- Read the per-audience breakdown table.
- Copy the equivalent
chmodcommand.
Useful ways to apply it
- Decoding ls -l output into a chmod-able number.
- Verifying what 2755 or 4755 actually mean before applying them.
- Teaching the relationship between the two notations.
- Auditing permissions listed in deployment docs.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between s and S?
Lowercase s means the special bit AND execute are both set; uppercase S means the special bit is set but execute is not — usually a misconfiguration worth checking.
Can I paste ls -l output directly?
Paste the 10-character permission block (like -rwxr-xr-x or drwxr-xr-x) — the leading type character is accepted and ignored.
Why does my 4-digit octal show letters in the symbolic form?
The first digit encodes setuid/setgid/sticky, which appear as s/S in owner/group execute positions and t/T in the others position.
Privacy
This tool runs 100% in your browser. Your data is never uploaded, stored, or logged.