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I currently have a directory (udir), which has only read and write permissions for all users. This directory contains two files (file1 & file2)
I initially though that only write access was needed (on the directory) for me to be able to delete/remove a file via (rm udir/file1) but the rm command would give me access denied. when i set the permissions to read, write, and execute, the rm command works.
Obviously the execute access is needed as well but why??
I thought the execute access on a directory was to be able to make it a working a directory and search its contents and access sub directories.
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User confirmation, read permission, and write permission are not required before a file is removed when you use the rm command. However, you must have write permission for the directory containing the file. After each file name displays, type y and press Enter to delete the file.
The basic permissions are: Full Control: Users can read, modify, add, move, and delete files, as well as their associated properties and directories.
To remove or delete a file or directory in Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, macOS, or Unix-like operating systems, use the rm command or unlink command.
644 - owner can read/write, group/others can read only. Some directory permission examples: 777 - all can read/write/search. 755 - owner can read/write/search, others and group can only search.
You actually need read, write and execute permissions on the directory, not on the file itself since the operation is done considering the permissions effects of directories.
A good documentation can be found on this link, which mentions the below in the section Special Considerations on Directories:
To delete a file requires both write (to modify the directory itself) and execute (to stat() the file's inode) on a directory. Note a user needs no permissions on a file nor be the file's owner to delete it!
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