Directory execute permission
 

I was always confused about the way it says that the execute permission for a directory means "able to list it". I just don't get it.

Does no exec permission mean "still able to read files from in the directory, but not able to find out what files it contains" or what?

The execute bit for directories means "can cd into the directory." The read bit means "can list the files."

Hope that helps!
Stu..

Personally, to get my head around it, I just created a directory/file and started at the left and changed bits until
I had been through each combination. Along with this I also had three users, creator, same group and some bozo not related either way.
I then tested each scenario with each.

Yes it was long and drawn out process, but hey .. got to understand it :)