superuser -- Definition

The superuser is the user  who has system-wide permissions.  He can execute
any program, read any file,  and write into any directory.  Thus, superuser
status is reserved to the system administrator, also called root, who needs
this status to control the operation of the system.

No  person  should  be able  to  become  the  superuser  without knowing  a
password.   Because  the  superuser  in  effect  ``owns'' the  system,  the
superuser password should be guarded most carefully.

See Also

root,
su,
Using COHERENT

© 2012 by Stephen A. Ness