What It Is
User roles decide what each person with a login can see and change on your site. WordPress includes several standard roles. Administrators can change everything. Editors manage all content. Authors write and publish their own posts. Contributors write drafts but cannot publish. Subscribers can only manage their own profile. It works like keys in a building: the owner has a master key, while staff get keys only to the rooms they need.
Why It Matters for Your Business
Roles let a small business share the work safely. A salon owner can give the front desk manager an Editor account to update specials, and a part-time blog writer a Contributor account so posts are reviewed before going live. Nobody but the owner, or a trusted developer, can install plugins or change settings, which reduces mistakes and limits damage if one account is compromised.
Good to Know
The most common mistake is giving everyone Administrator access because it is easier. Review your user list a few times a year. Remove people who no longer work with you, especially past contractors and agencies. Plugins such as online stores or course tools may add their own roles, so check those too.