Finding and Using Free and Easy FTP Programs

Typically, folders and files within your Web server are assigned permissions

of either 644 or 755. Usually, you’ll see PHP files, or files that end with the
.php extension, with permissions set to 644 if the Web server is configured
to use PHP Safe Mode.

This is a very basic look at file permissions because, usually, you will not
need to mess with file permissions on your Web server. In case you do
need to dig further, you can find a great reference on file permissions from
Elated.com at http://www.elated.com/articles/understanding-
permissions.

You may run across a situation where you’re asked to edit and change the

file permissions on a particular file on your Web server. With WordPress

sites, this usually happens when dealing with plugins or theme files that
require files or folders to be writable by the Web server. This practice is
referred to as CHMOD, an acronym for Change Mode. When someone says,
“You need to CHMOD that file to 755,” you’ll know what they are talking
about.