What is the difference between numeric and symbolic modes in chmod?

What is the difference between numeric and symbolic modes in chmod?

Numeric modes use numbers (0-7) to set permissions, while symbolic modes use letters (r, w, x) to represent them.

Can you give me an example of using both modes?

Sure! To give read and write permissions to the owner, you can use 'chmod 600 file.txt' (numeric) or 'chmod u+rw file.txt' (symbolic).

What do the numbers in numeric mode represent?

The numbers represent permissions: 4 for read (r), 2 for write (w), and 1 for execute (x). They are summed for each user category.

Is one method preferred over the other?

It depends on the situation. Numeric is quicker for setting specific permissions, while symbolic is more intuitive for modifying them.