(find.info)Numeric Modes

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5.3 Numeric Modes
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As an alternative to giving a symbolic mode, you can give an octal
(base 8) number that represents the new mode.  This number is always
interpreted in octal; you do not have to add a leading 0, as you do in
C.  Mode 0055 is the same as mode 55.

   A numeric mode is usually shorter than the corresponding symbolic
mode, but it is limited in that it cannot take into account a file's
previous permissions; it can only set them absolutely.

   The permissions granted to the user, to other users in the file's
group, and to other users not in the file's group each require three
bits, which are represented as one octal digit.  The three special
permissions also require one bit each, and they are as a group
represented as another octal digit.  Here is how the bits are arranged,
starting with the lowest valued bit:

     Value in  Corresponding
     Mode      Permission

               Other users not in the file's group:
        1      Execute
        2      Write
        4      Read

               Other users in the file's group:
       10      Execute
       20      Write
       40      Read

               The file's owner:
      100      Execute
      200      Write
      400      Read

               Special permissions:
     1000      Restricted deletion flag or sticky bit
     2000      Set group ID on execution
     4000      Set user ID on execution

   For example, numeric mode 4755 corresponds to symbolic mode
`u=rwxs,go=rx', and numeric mode 664 corresponds to symbolic mode
`ug=rw,o=r'.  Numeric mode 0 corresponds to symbolic mode `a='.