Function and Purpose
Joomla uses user groups to organize permissions logically. Every user belongs to at least one group. These groups define which actions are allowed — for example editing articles, managing menus, or adjusting modules.
Default Groups in Joomla
- Public: Visitors without login. They only see publicly accessible content.
- Registered: Users who can log in and see protected areas.
- Author: Can create and save their own articles, but not publish them.
- Editor: Can edit all articles, but cannot publish them.
- Publisher: Can publish and unpublish articles.
- Manager / Administrator: Access to the backend with extended administrative rights.
- Super User: Full access to all areas and settings.
Inheritance and Permissions
User groups in Joomla follow an inheritance system: child groups inherit the rights of their parent group. This lets you flexibly control who can view, edit, or administer content.
- An example: The “Author” group inherits from “Registered.” If you add custom rights, those apply in addition.
- Fine-grained control: Permissions can be adjusted per component or action via the Access Control List (ACL).
- No double assignment needed: Users can belong to multiple groups — Joomla automatically combines the respective rights.
Important Notes
- Plan before setup: Consider which user groups you really need to avoid conflicts later.
- Avoid too many groups: Keep the structure clear and logically organized.
- Test permissions regularly: Use the backend to check which actions a group can actually perform.
- Back up before changes: Before major adjustments to groups and ACLs, back up the database.