(coreutils.info)chmod invocation

13.3 `chmod': Change access permissions
=======================================

`chmod' changes the access permissions of the named files.  Synopsis:

     chmod [OPTION]... {MODE | --reference=REF_FILE} FILE...

   `chmod' never changes the permissions of symbolic links, since the
`chmod' system call cannot change their permissions.  This is not a
problem since the permissions of symbolic links are never used.
However, for each symbolic link listed on the command line, `chmod'
changes the permissions of the pointed-to file.  In contrast, `chmod'
ignores symbolic links encountered during recursive directory
traversals.

   If used, MODE specifies the new permissions.  For details, see the
section on Note: File permissions.

   The program accepts the following options.  Also see Note: Common
options.

`-c'
`--changes'
     Verbosely describe the action for each FILE whose permissions
     actually changes.

`-f'
`--silent'
`--quiet'
     Do not print error messages about files whose permissions cannot be
     changed.

`--preserve-root'
     Fail upon any attempt to recursively change the filesystem root,
     `/'.  Without `--recursive', this option has no effect.  Note:
     Treating / specially.

`--no-preserve-root'
     Cancel the effect of any preceding `--preserve-root' option.
     Note: Treating / specially.

`-v'
`--verbose'
     Verbosely describe the action or non-action taken for every FILE.

`--reference=REF_FILE'
     Change the mode of each FILE to be the same as that of REF_FILE.
     Note: File permissions.  If REF_FILE is a symbolic link, do not
     use the mode of the symbolic link, but rather that of the file it
     refers to.

`-R'
`--recursive'
     Recursively change permissions of directories and their contents.


   An exit status of zero indicates success, and a nonzero value
indicates failure.