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What is File Permissions?

A security mechanism that controls who can read, write, or execute files and directories in Unix-like systems.

Linux file permissions use a three-tier system: owner, group, and others. Each tier can have read (r=4), write (w=2), and execute (x=1) permissions. For example, chmod 755 grants the owner full access while giving read and execute access to everyone else.

Special permissions include SUID, SGID, and the sticky bit, which provide additional access control for specific use cases.

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