WordPress offers several predefined user roles with varying capabilities to control access and permissions on your website. The key user roles are:

• Administrator: Full control over the site, including managing users, plugins, themes, and settings.
• Editor: Can publish, edit, and manage all content, including posts and pages created by others.
• Author: Can publish and manage their own posts.
• Contributor: Can write and manage their own posts but cannot publish them.
• Subscriber: Can read and comment on content but cannot create or manage posts/pages.

Role	Key Capabilities
Administrator	Full control over the site
Editor	Manage all content, categories, tags, comments
Author	Publish and manage own posts
Contributor	Write and manage own posts (not publish)
Subscriber	Read content, manage profile

Managing user roles and capabilities is crucial for maintaining a secure and organized WordPress site. Best practices include:

• Assign minimum required permissions
• Secure user accounts with strong passwords and two-factor authentication
• Periodically review and update user roles and capabilities
• Use trusted sources like reputable plugins for user role management
• Control content access based on user roles

WordPress also allows you to customize user roles and capabilities to fit your site’s specific needs. You can create new roles, add or remove capabilities from existing roles, and use plugins like User Role Editor, Members, and Advanced Access Manager for enhanced user role management.

Related video from YouTube

WordPress User Roles

WordPress offers several user roles that control what actions users can perform on a website. These roles help maintain security and organize content management.

Subscriber

Subscribers have the most limited access:

• Can log in and manage their profile
• Can read content
• Cannot create, edit, or publish posts or pages

This role is suitable for registered users or members who need access to specific areas.

Contributor

Contributors can:

• Write and manage their own posts
• Cannot publish posts without approval from an Editor or Administrator

They have no access to other users’ posts or website settings.

Author

Authors can:

• Publish and manage their own posts
• Create, edit, and delete their posts
• Upload media files to their posts

However, they cannot modify posts by other users or change website settings.

Editor

Editors have broader capabilities:

• Manage their own posts
• Publish, edit, and delete posts and pages by other users
• Manage categories, tags, and comments

Editors cannot access website settings, install plugins, or change themes.

Administrator

Administrators have full control over the website:

• Manage all content, users, plugins, themes, and settings
• Create and assign user roles

Administrators have the highest level of access on a single WordPress site.

Super Admin (Multisite Only)

The Super Admin role applies to WordPress Multisite installations with multiple websites. Super Admins can:

• Manage sites, users, themes, and plugins across the entire network
• Control the entire multisite installation

| Role | Key Capabilities

Managing User Roles and Capabilities

Viewing User Roles

To see the roles assigned to users on your WordPress site:

1. Go to Users > All Users in the admin area.
2. You’ll see a list of all registered users and their roles.

Adding New Users

To add a new user and assign a role:

1. Click Add New at the top of the Users page.
2. Enter the user’s details like username, email, and password.
3. Select the role from the Role dropdown menu.
4. Click Add New User.

Changing User Roles

To change a user’s role:

1. Hover over the user’s name on the Users page and click Edit.
2. Select the new role from the Role dropdown.
3. Click Update User.

Role	Capabilities
Subscriber	Can log in, manage profile, read content
Contributor	Can write and manage own posts (not publish)
Author	Can publish and manage own posts
Editor	Can manage all posts and pages, categories, tags, comments
Administrator	Has full control over the site, users, plugins, themes, settings

Best Practices

• Limit the number of admin and editor accounts.
• Assign roles based on user needs and responsibilities.
• Review and update user roles regularly.
• Use plugins to customize roles and capabilities.

Making User Roles Fit Your Needs

WordPress allows you to customize user roles and capabilities to match your site’s specific requirements. This helps control access levels and permissions for different user groups.

Adding New Capabilities

To give an existing role additional capabilities, you can use the add_cap() function. For example, to let Authors edit posts by other users:

$role = get_role( 'author' );
$role->add_cap( 'edit_others_posts' );

This code gets the Author role and adds the edit_others_posts capability to it.

Creating Custom Roles

You can create a new role with specific capabilities using the add_role() function. For instance, to make a "Content Editor" role that can edit and publish posts:

add_role( 'content_editor', 'Content Editor' );
$role = get_role( 'content_editor' );
$role->add_cap( 'edit_posts' );
$role->add_cap( 'publish_posts' );

This code creates a "Content Editor" role and gives it the edit_posts and publish_posts capabilities.

Best Practices

When customizing user roles and capabilities, follow these guidelines:

• Limit the number of admin and editor accounts.
• Assign roles based on user needs and responsibilities.
• Review and update user roles regularly.
• Use plugins to customize roles and capabilities.

Capabilities Comparison

Here’s a table comparing the capabilities of the default user roles in WordPress:

Capability	Subscriber	Contributor	Author	Editor	Administrator
read	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
edit_posts	❌	✔	✔	✔	✔
edit_others_posts	❌	❌	❌	✔	✔
publish_posts	❌	❌	✔	✔	✔
upload_files	❌	❌	✔	✔	✔

✔ indicates the capability is granted, while ❌ indicates it is not.

User Roles and Capabilities in Plugin Development

When building a WordPress plugin, it’s crucial to understand user roles and capabilities. This ensures your plugin functions properly and securely.

Checking User Capabilities

You need to verify if users have the necessary capabilities to perform certain actions in your plugin. Use the current_user_can() function to check if a user has a specific capability. For example:

if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {
    // Code to manage options
}

This code checks if the current user can manage options before allowing them to do so.

Adding Custom Capabilities

If your plugin requires custom capabilities, you can add them using the add_cap() function. For example:

$role = get_role( 'administrator' );
$role->add_cap( 'manage_my_plugin' );

This code gives the administrator role the manage_my_plugin capability.

Creating Custom Plugin Roles

You can create custom user roles specific to your plugin’s features. For example, a "Plugin Manager" role with capabilities related to your plugin. Use the add_role() function to create a new role and assign capabilities to it.

add_role( 'plugin_manager', 'Plugin Manager' );
$role = get_role( 'plugin_manager' );
$role->add_cap( 'manage_my_plugin' );
$role->add_cap( 'edit_my_plugin_settings' );

This code creates a "Plugin Manager" role and gives it the manage_my_plugin and edit_my_plugin_settings capabilities.

Role	Capabilities
Administrator	Can manage options, add custom capabilities
Plugin Manager	Can manage the plugin, edit plugin settings

sbb-itb-77ae9a4

User Roles and Capabilities in Multisite Networks

In a WordPress Multisite network, user roles and capabilities are crucial for managing multiple sites efficiently. Understanding these roles and capabilities helps administrators delegate tasks, ensure security, and maintain smooth operations across the network.

Super Admin Role

The Super Admin role is the highest level of authority in a Multisite network. Super Admins have complete control over the entire network, including:

• Creating and deleting sites
• Managing users across the network
• Installing and activating plugins and themes
• Upgrading WordPress Core for the entire network

Managing Roles Across Sites

Managing user roles and capabilities across multiple sites in a Multisite network requires careful planning. Site Administrators have control over their respective sites, while Super Admins oversee the entire network. To manage roles effectively:

• Assign specific roles to users based on their responsibilities
• Use plugins like User Role Editor to customize roles and capabilities
• Establish a clear hierarchy of roles and responsibilities
• Regularly review and update user roles to ensure security and efficiency

Custom Roles in Multisite

Creating custom roles in a Multisite environment can be useful for specific needs. For example, you might want a "Network Editor" role that allows users to edit content across multiple sites. When creating custom roles:

• Identify the specific needs of your Multisite network
• Use plugins like Members or Advanced Access Manager to create custom roles
• Assign capabilities carefully to ensure security and efficiency
• Test and refine your custom roles regularly to ensure they meet your needs

Role	Capabilities
Super Admin	Complete control over the entire network
Site Administrator	Control over their respective site
Network Editor (Custom)	Edit content across multiple sites

Best Practices and Security

Proper user role and capability management is crucial for maintaining a secure and organized WordPress site. Here are some best practices to follow:

Assign Minimum Required Permissions

Grant user roles only the permissions necessary for their tasks. Avoid giving excessive access, as this can increase security risks and the potential for accidental data loss or misuse.

Secure User Accounts

Enforce strong password policies and enable two-factor authentication, especially for roles with elevated privileges like Administrators. Regularly review and remove inactive or unnecessary accounts.

Periodic Reviews

Regularly audit user roles and capabilities across your WordPress sites. Identify any discrepancies, revoke unnecessary permissions, and ensure roles align with current responsibilities. This practice helps maintain a secure and organized user management system.

Use Trusted Sources

When customizing user roles and capabilities, use reputable and well-maintained plugins from trusted sources. Thoroughly vet any third-party plugins to ensure they follow security best practices and receive regular updates.

Control Content Access

Leverage user roles to restrict access to specific content or areas of your site. For example, you can use plugins to limit certain pages, posts, or custom post types based on user roles.

Best Practice	Description
Assign Minimum Required Permissions	Grant only the necessary capabilities for each user role.
Secure User Accounts	Enforce strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Periodic Reviews	Regularly review and update user roles and capabilities.
Use Trusted Sources	Use reputable and well-maintained plugins for user role management.
Control Content Access	Restrict access to specific content based on user roles.

User Role Management Plugins for WordPress

WordPress offers several plugins to enhance user role and capability management. These plugins provide additional features and customization options to better suit your site’s needs.

User Role Editor

User Role Editor is a free plugin that allows you to easily edit user roles and capabilities through a simple interface. With this plugin, you can:

• Create new roles
• Modify existing roles
• Assign specific capabilities to each role
• Assign multiple roles to individual users

Members

Members is a user role management plugin focused on providing granular control over roles, permissions, and content access. Key features include:

• Creating and customizing roles
• Assigning multiple roles to users
• Using shortcodes to restrict content based on user roles
• Cloning existing roles
• Explicitly denying capabilities

WPFront User Role Editor

WPFront User Role Editor offers a range of features for managing user roles and capabilities, including:

• Creating, editing, and deleting roles
• Migrating users between roles
• Setting default roles for new users
• Controlling navigation menu and widget permissions
• Multisite support (premium version)
• Custom post type permissions (premium version)
• Advanced login redirection options (premium version)

Advanced Access Manager (AAM)

Advanced Access Manager (AAM) provides highly customizable access control for user roles and capabilities. Key features include:

Feature	Description
Admin Area Access	Manage access to the WordPress admin area
Temporary Accounts	Create temporary user accounts
Content Access Levels	Define default access levels for various content types
REST API Integration	Integrate with the WordPress REST API
Hooks	Numerous hooks for programmatic access management

PublishPress Capabilities

PublishPress Capabilities offers a user-friendly interface for creating and managing custom user roles and capabilities. Notable features:

• Specify which editing screens and menu links are visible to each role
• Control access to various content types
• Back up and restore user roles and capabilities
• Migrate settings between sites

Conclusion

User roles and capabilities in WordPress are essential for managing access and permissions on your website. By understanding the different roles and their associated capabilities, you can ensure users have the right level of access to perform their tasks without compromising site security.

Throughout this guide, we covered various aspects of user roles and capabilities, including:

• The default roles (Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, Subscriber)
• Customizing roles and capabilities
• Managing roles and capabilities
• The importance of user role management plugins and their key features

As you continue managing your WordPress site, remember to:

• Regularly review and update user roles and capabilities to align with your site’s needs
• Explore additional resources and documentation to stay updated on best practices and security guidelines

Key Takeaways

• Assign Minimum Permissions: Grant user roles only the permissions necessary for their tasks to reduce security risks.
• Secure User Accounts: Enforce strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication, especially for privileged roles like Administrators.
• Periodic Reviews: Regularly audit user roles and capabilities, revoking unnecessary permissions and ensuring roles align with current responsibilities.
• Use Trusted Sources: When customizing user roles and capabilities, use reputable and well-maintained plugins from trusted sources.
• Control Content Access: Leverage user roles to restrict access to specific content or areas of your site.

Best Practice	Description
Assign Minimum Permissions	Grant only necessary capabilities for each role.
Secure User Accounts	Enforce strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
Periodic Reviews	Regularly review and update roles and capabilities.
Use Trusted Sources	Use reputable plugins for user role management.
Control Content Access	Restrict access to content based on user roles.

FAQs

What are user roles and capabilities in WordPress?

User roles and capabilities in WordPress allow you to control what actions different users can perform on your website. You can use them to manage tasks like:

• Writing and editing posts
• Creating new pages
• Moderating comments
• Installing plugins
• Adding new users

How do I add capabilities to a user role in WordPress?

To add a capability to a user role or specific user in WordPress, you can use the add_cap() function. For example, you could use a custom plugin like Customize User Role to give the Editor role the ability to manage plugins by using this function.

Here’s how it might look:

Role	Capability Added	Description
Editor	manage_plugins	Allows Editors to install, activate, and manage plugins

To add this capability using code:

$role = get_role( 'editor' );
$role->add_cap( 'manage_plugins' );

This code gets the Editor role and adds the manage_plugins capability to it, allowing Editors to manage plugins on the site.

Related posts

• WordPress Mastery: Essential Plugins
• WordPress Resources for Beginners
• 10 Best WordPress User Profile Plugins 2024
• 10 Best WordPress Plugins to Enforce Strong Passwords 2024