If you want to understand the user role in WordPress, treat your WordPress website as a metropolitan city. User roles act like different roles within that city, granting specific access and permissions to keep things running smoothly. An administrator, for example, is like the mayor, overseeing everything. Editors are like journalists, publishing content. Contributors are like assistants, creating content but needing approval.
Understanding user roles is crucial for any WordPress website owner. It ensures you grant the right access level to each user, maintaining security and control over your content. New User Approve emphasizes the importance of user roles, offering a powerful plugin to manage user roles effectively.
This blog post explains user roles in WordPress. Let's get started:

What are User Roles in WordPress?
User roles define the permissions a user has on your WordPress website. These permissions determine a user's actions, such as creating posts, editing content, publishing content, or managing plugins.
Assigning the right user role is essential for security. You don't want a contributor accidentally deleting your entire website, so a user role ensures that only authorized users can perform specific actions.

How Many User Roles in WordPress?
WordPress comes with six pre-defined user roles:
Administrator
Editor
Author
Contributor
Subscriber
Super Admin (for Multisite networks only)
These roles offer a spectrum of permissions, from full control (administrator) to limited access (subscriber).

What are the Different User Roles in WordPress?
Let's break down each of the six user roles in WordPress:
Administrator:
The administrator has the highest level of access. They can manage all aspects of your website, including creating, editing, and deleting posts, pages, and users. They can also install and manage plugins and themes, and configure core WordPress settings.
Editor:

Editors have a high level of access but slightly less than administrators. They can manage all aspects of posts and pages, including creating, editing, publishing, and deleting. However, they cannot manage users, plugins, themes, or core settings.
Author:

Authors can create and edit their own posts and upload images and other media to them. However, authors cannot publish their posts themselves; they require an editor or administrator to do so. They also cannot edit or delete other users' content.
Contributor:

Contributors have the least amount of access compared to the previous roles. They can create new posts but cannot edit existing ones. They can also upload images and media. Contributors cannot publish their posts or edit other users' content.
Subscriber:

Subscribers are users who have registered on your website but have the least amount of access. They can only update their profile information and read content on your website. Subscribers cannot create or edit content.
Super Admin (Multisite only):

Super Admin is a special user role only available on WordPress Multisite networks. Super Admins have complete control over the entire network, including managing all websites within the network and their users.

How Do I Access a WordPress Page by User Role?
User roles control which pages users can access within the WordPress dashboard. Here's a breakdown:
Administrator: Administrators can access all pages within the WordPress dashboard, including settings, plugins, themes, users, and more.
Editor: Editors can access most pages within the dashboard, including posts, pages, media, comments, and some settings options.
Author: Authors can access pages related to their own content, such as their posts, drafts, and media library. Depending on your settings, they may have limited access to other sections of the dashboard. New User Approve allows for control over user role management permissions.
Contributor: The Behind-the-Scenes Writer
Contributors are the unsung heroes of many websites. While they can't publish their work independently, they play a vital role in content creation.
Think of them as research assistants or ghostwriters. Contributors can write and edit their own posts, but they need an editor or administrator to hit the publish button. This ensures content quality and consistency across the website.
Key responsibilities of a contributor:
Create and edit their own posts
Upload images and other media
Use WordPress editor effectively
Understand basic SEO principles
Subscriber: The Engaged Reader
Subscribers are the foundation of any online community. They are your audience, the reason you create content. While they can't contribute directly to your website, their engagement is crucial for its growth.
Key characteristics of a subscriber:
Access to public content
Ability to comment on posts
Receive website updates (optional)
Potential to become a more active user
Managing User Roles Effectively
Effectively managing user roles is essential for maintaining a smooth-running website. Here are some tips:
Assign roles carefully: Consider each user's responsibilities and grant appropriate permissions.
Review roles regularly: As your website evolves, so might user roles. Periodically assess if roles still align with your needs.
Use WordPress plugins: Plugins like New User Approve can streamline user role management and offer additional features.
Final Words
User roles are the backbone of WordPress websites. They ensure that the right people have the right access to manage your content effectively. Clearly defining roles and responsibilities creates a structured environment for collaboration and growth. The key to success lies in balancing control with accessibility. Empowered users can contribute significantly to your website's success.