May 15, 2003

root

n.

1. [Unix] The superuser account (with user name ‘root’) that ignores permission bits, user number 0 on a Unix system. The term avatar is also used.

2. The top node of the system directory structure; historically the home directory of the root user, but probably named after the root of an (inverted) tree.

3. By extension, the privileged system-maintenance login on any OS. See root mode, go root, see also wheel.

Posted by Jargon File at May 15, 2003 10:32 AM

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