Understanding WordPress User Roles: A Comprehensive Overview

WordPress uses the concept of roles to enable website owners to regulate user activities such as content creation, plugin management, category creation, comment moderation, and managing other users, thereby increasing user control.

1. Super Admin

Super administrators have all multisite functionality, including site network management functions, site creation, deletion, network management, network users, plugins, web themes, network options, setup, and upgrade. They can also install a single WordPress site and access other administrative functions.

2. Administrator

In WordPress, admin is a user role that allows users to add, delete, and edit content. The first user is assigned this role, and they can perform all actions on the platform. They can upgrade blogs, edit themes, and modify plugins. In a multisite installation, they have additional functionality such as installing plugins, adding users, and managing the site network.

3. Editor

4. Author

In WordPress, the author role is a predefined user role that allows users to write, edit, upload, delete, and publish articles. They can also update their profiles and change passwords. Sites with multiple authors often assign contributor positions or use features to build custom roles. Author pages often contain biographical information about the writer, such as name, date of birth, location, and social media.

5. Contributor

WordPress’s contributor role allows users to edit and delete posts but cannot delete them. This role is ideal for website owners who want others to access and write content.

6. Subscriber

The subscriber role in WordPress allows users to manage their profiles but not publish posts. It has minimal functionality and can be changed until the default functionality is updated. They can build and manage their own profiles on WordPress sites, but they cannot write or publish posts. They also allow users to leave comments without entering information, which is great for regular blog readers and active commenters and makes commenting easier and faster.