Help:Group rights

This page provides an overview of the different types of user rights. A more comprehensive list can be found at Special:UserGroupRights.

Basic

IP addresses

Editors who are not logged in are typically attributed by an IP address whenever they save an edit. These editors can only edit pages and cannot create pages or upload files. It is recommended to create an account so your edits can be attributed to a username.

Users

For a list of all users, see Special:ListUsers.

The users of Pikipedia are any editors that have an account. Although people without an account can make edits and use some basic editing features of the wiki, users with an account can also:

• Upload files.
• Send emails to other users.
• Bypass the CAPTCHA.
• Mark edits as minor.
• Use the write API.

Although newly-created accounts have access to those features, autoconfirmed users have access to a few more.

Autoconfirmed users

Autoconfirmed users are users that are automatically confirmed to be actual contributors to Pikipedia. This system is in place in order to prevent giving too many privileges to newly-created accounts, in fear that they may be used to cause harm. A user is considered autoconfirmed when they have made 1 edit and have the account for at least a full day.

Compared to newly-registered users, users that are autoconfirmed can:

• Create non-discussion pages.
• Move pages and files.
• Edit semi-protected pages.
• Upload files from a URL.
• Upload new versions of existing files.

Staff

See also: Pikipedia:Staff.

Patrollers

For a list of all patrollers, see Special:ListUsers/patroller.

Patrollers are the lowest level of staff on Pikipedia. They have no authority over other users, but are trusted to use the patroller tools to protect the wiki from vandalism. Compared to autoconfirmed users, patrollers have the ability to:

• Use the patrolling interface: By default, new edits have a red exclamation mark that indicates that they have not been checked by anyone, and patrollers (and higher ranks) can remove the mark after checking that the edit is OK.
• Use the rollback tool: The rollback tool is an advanced version of the Undo feature, and allows multiple edits to be reverted quickly.
• Block users: Patrollers can temporarily block accounts and IP addresses that vandalize the wiki from editing.
• Delete pages: Patrollers can delete pages with 5 or fewer edits.

Administrators

For a list of all administrators, see Special:Listusers/sysop.

Administrators (also known as sysops) are Pikipedia users who have administrator rights.

Administrators are not imbued with any special authority and are equal to everyone else in terms of editorial responsibility. Some consider the terms "sysop" and "administrator" to be misnomers, as they just indicate users who have had performance- and security-based restrictions on several features lifted because they seemed like trustworthy folks. Administrators should not have power over other users other than applying decisions made by all users.

The community does look to administrators to perform essential housekeeping chores that require the extra access administrators are entrusted with. Among these are keeping an eye on new and changed articles to swiftly remove vandalism, and meeting user requests for help with tasks that require administrator access. Since administrators are experienced members of the community, users seeking help will often turn to an administrator for advice and information.

The MediaWiki software has a few important features that are restricted to administrators. Compared to regular users and patrollers, administrators have the ability to:

• Protect pages: Administrators can protect and unprotect a page, preventing it from being edited by certain user groups (generally unregistered users, or in rare cases non-administrators).
• Change the interface: Administrators can edit pages in the MediaWiki namespace, which controls the wiki's appearance and functionality.
• Delete pages: Administrators can delete pages and images, and can also view and restore deleted pages and their history.
• Block users: In rare situations, administrators can block (and unblock) IP addresses, IP ranges, and user accounts for a specific time or indefinitely.

Bureaucrats

For a list of all current bureaucrats, see Special:Listusers/bureaucrat.

Bureaucrats are Pikipedia users who have bureaucrat rights.

These users are also administrators. Aside from the responsibilities of adminhood, bureaucrats have the ability to grant (and revoke) administrator or bureaucrat status to other users. This ability is used periodically to ensure the wiki has an ample number of active, capable administrators.

Developers

For a list of developers, see Special:ListUsers/developer.

Pikipedia developers are users that have access to the wiki's database.

Others

Bots

For a list of bots, see Special:ListUsers/bot.

Bots are user accounts set up for automated editing. They do not appear in the recent changes by default because they often make large numbers of edits in a short time period. Most bots have operators with their own account for normal editing; this should be indicated on the bot's user page. The most common reason bots are created is for performing tasks that are too tedious for humans to do.