ls -l Decoder

The ls -l command outputs a 10-character string that encodes the file type and permissions. This tool decodes each character:

Position 1 — File Type

Positions 2-10 — Permissions

Three groups of three characters each represent Owner, Group, and Others:

• r — Read (4): view file contents or list directory
• w — Write (2): modify file or create/delete files in directory
• x — Execute (1): run as program or access directory
• - — Permission not granted

Special Bits

Some characters in the execute positions indicate special permission bits:

• s in owner execute — Setuid: program runs as file owner
• S in owner execute — Setuid set but no execute permission
• s in group execute — Setgid: program runs as file group
• S in group execute — Setgid set but no execute permission
• t in others execute — Sticky bit: only owner can delete files (e.g. /tmp)
• T in others execute — Sticky bit set but no execute permission

Octal Notation

Each permission group is summed as read=4, write=2, execute=1. For example, rwxr-xr-- = 754 (7=rwx, 5=r-x, 4=r--).