The chown command is used by system administrators to change the ownership of files and directories on Linux filesystems.
For new users and students looking for a Linux system to start learning on, the easiest place to start is Ubuntu Linux OS. It’s a great platform for beginners to start learning Linux on.
Ubuntu is an open-source Linux operating systems that runs on desktops, laptops, server and other devices.
About chown command:
The chown command is used by system administrators to change the ownership of files and directories on Linux filesystems. It allows superuser to change and restrict access to files and directories on Linux systems.
Like using your mouse and keyboard to add and remove users access from files and folders in the GUI. the chown is the way to do it on the command line.
Linux has three major groups to apply permissions to. these are:
User –– These permissions apply to a single user who has special access to the file. This user is called the owner.
Group — These apply to a single group of users who have access to the file. This group is the owning group.
Other — These apply to every other user on the system. These users are known as others, or the world.
When a file is created, the user automatically is assigned ownership of the file. and the group becomes the user’s default group.
Syntax:
The syntax is the rule and format of how the chown command can be used. the syntax’s options can be reordered. but straight format must be followed.,.
Below is an example syntax of how to use the chown command.
chown [OPTION]. [OWNER][:[GROUP]] FILE.
Options:
The command line options are switches or flags that determined how the commands are executed or controlled. they modify the behavior of the command. they are separated by spaces and followed after the command’s options.
Below are some options of the chown command:
| FILE. | Replace FILE. with the file you want to change it ownership. If the file doesn’t already exist, the command will fail and not execute.. |
| -c, –changes | Use the -c or –changes option to report only when a change is made |
| -f, –silent, –quiet | Use the -f or –silent, –quiet to suppress most error messages |
| -R, –recursive | Use the -R or –recursive option to operate on files and directories recursively |
| -v, –verbose | Use the -v or –verbose option to output a diagnostic for every file processed |
| -h, –help | display this help message and exit |
Examples:
Below are some examples of how to run and use the chown on Ubuntu Linux.
If you want to give John owership of a file named Confidential, you run the commands below.
chown john Confidential
If you wish to make John the owner but make the private group owner, you run the commands below.
chown john:private Confidential
If you’re not logged in as a root account, you may have to use the sudo command it it.
sudo chown john:private Confidential
The commands above give John ownership but assign the private group as group owner of the Confidential file. If access is granted to the private group, all members of that group will be able to access the Confidential file.
To change the ownership and group of an entire directory, including sub-directories, you add the -R option.
sudo chown -R john:private directories
In the example above, the chown command will give John user ownership but make the private group the group owner of directories.
When you run chown with the –help option, you’ll see the help text below:
Usage: chown [OPTION]. [OWNER][:[GROUP]] FILE.
or: chown [OPTION]. --reference=RFILE FILE.
Change the owner and/or group of each FILE to OWNER and/or GROUP.
With --reference, change the owner and group of each FILE to those of RFILE.
-c, --changes like verbose but report only when a change is made
-f, --silent, --quiet suppress most error messages
-v, --verbose output a diagnostic for every file processed
--help display this help and exit
--version output version information an
That’s it!
Hope you like it and please come back soon for more Ubuntu Linux command!
