File attributes are settings associated with computer files that grant or deny certain rights to how a user or the operating system can access that file. For example, IBM compatible computers running MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows have capabilities of having read, archive, system, and hidden attributes.

  • Read-only - Allows a file to be read, but nothing can be written to the file or changed.
  • Archive - Tells Windows Backup to back up the file.
  • System - System file.
  • Hidden - File is not shown when doing a regular dir from DOS.

In operating systems like Linux, there are three main file attributes: read (r), write (w), execute (x).

  • Read - Designated as an “r”; allows a file to be read, but nothing can be written to or changed in the file.
  • Write - Designated as a “w”; allows a file to be written to and changed.
  • Execute - Designated as an “x”; allows a file to be executed by users or the operating system.

How to adjust the file attributes

  • How to view and change the file attributes in Windows.
  • To adjust the attributes of a file in MS-DOS or the Windows command line, use the attrib command.
  • In Linux, Linux variants, and Unix to adjust the file attributes use the chmod command.

Attribute, Operating system terms

  • Computer file help and support.