WordPress user roles and permissions help site administrators control what users can do on their website. This guide explores the primary roles and how to assign appropriate permissions.

The most powerful role, administrators have full access to the site. They can add, delete, and modify plugins, themes, and other settings, as well as manage all content and users. It’s recommended to limit this role to only trusted users to avoid security risks.

Editors can manage and publish all posts on a site, including those created by other users. They can also manage categories, tags, and comments but cannot change site settings or install plugins and themes.

Authors can write, edit, and publish their own posts. They do not have access to posts created by other users, and their permissions are limited to content creation. They also can't change site settings or manage themes and plugins.

Contributors can write and edit their own posts, but they cannot publish them. Their content must be reviewed and published by someone with the Editor or Administrator role. They have the least control over the website and cannot upload media files.

Subscribers can only manage their own profiles and read content. This role is usually assigned to users who need to log in to view restricted content.

You can create custom roles tailored to your site’s needs using plugins like User Role Editor. This allows you to fine-tune permissions, combining or restricting features for specific users.

Administrators can easily modify permissions for any role via the WordPress dashboard or through plugins, allowing for a more granular approach to site management.

WordPress user roles and permissions provide flexibility in managing who has access to different areas of your site. Properly assigning roles helps maintain security, ensures content quality, and streamlines site management.