Interpreting permission triplets: In a long listing, the first permission triplet shows “rw-” for the owner. What does this indicate about the owner’s access rights on that file?

Introduction / Context:
UNIX ls -l displays file permissions in triplets for owner, group, and others. Each triplet is a sequence of three characters representing read (r), write (w), and execute (x). Correctly reading these triplets is critical for understanding who can view, modify, or run a file.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The owner’s permission triplet is rw-.
• r means read access, w means write access, and - means no execute permission.
• The context is a regular file (special bits are not shown here).

Concept / Approach:
Permission rw- equals read plus write for the owner, without execute. It allows the owner to view and modify the file contents but not execute it as a program or script (without changing permissions). This interpretation holds for both files and directories, though for directories execute has a different meaning (traversal), which is not present here.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Use chmod u+x filename to add execute and observe the triplet change from rw- to rwx. Use stat -c %A filename to display permissions in symbolic form.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Executable only: contradicts rw-. Write+execute or read+execute: inconsistent with the shown characters. None of the above: incorrect because rw- clearly means read and write.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing directory execute (search/traverse) with file execute; misreading the position of triplets (owner vs group vs others); ignoring special bits like setuid which appear elsewhere in the string.

Final Answer:
both read and write permissions