Glossary — in plain language

Role (user / group)


In plain English

In PostgreSQL a role is both a user and a group — there is no separate “user” object. A role can log in (then it acts like a user), own objects, hold privileges, and contain other roles (then it acts like a group).

Why it matters

Good security uses group roles for privileges and login roles for people/apps, granting the group to the login. Most “permission denied” errors trace back to which role you are and what it was granted.

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