This mode permits the files in a directory to be listed and permits access
to those files. However, files can't be created or deleted. Access means
that you can view, change, or execute the files as permitted by the files'
own permissions.

-x
Files in this directory can be accessed, but the contents of the directory
can't be listed, so you have to know what filename you're looking for in
advance (unless you're exceptionally good at guessing). Files can't be
created or deleted.

rwx
You can do anything you want with the files in this directory, as long as
it's permitted by the permissions on the files themselves.

Directory write permission determines whether you can delete files in a
directory. A read-only file can be deleted if you have permission to write
to the directory containing it. You can't delete a file from a read-only
directory even if you're allowed to make changes to the file.

This also means that if you own a directory you can always delete files
from it, even if those files belong to root.

Directory execute permission determines whether you have access to files -
and thus whether file permissions come into play. If you have execute
permissions to a directory, file permissions for that directory become
relevant. Otherwise, file permissions just don't matter; you can't access
the files anyway.

Permissions in Practice