What is the Difference Between Adduser and Useradd?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The useradd
and adduser
commands in Linux are used to create new user accounts on a system. While they perform similar tasks, they differ in their execution methods and availability across distributions.
useradd
is a lower-level command that is available on all Linux distributions. It requires additional parameters to set up the account entirely. Some key features of useradd
include:
- Does not create a home directory for the new user by default.
- Does not ask for a password.
- Does not ask for any additional information.
On the other hand, adduser
is a higher-level command that is not available on all Linux distributions. It is essentially a Perl script that uses the useradd
command in the background. Some key features of adduser
include:
- Creates a new group.
- Creates the home directory for the new user under
/home
. - Asks for the password.
- Asks for additional information such as Full Name, Room number, Work phone, and Home phone.
- Provides an interactive prompt, making it more beginner-friendly.
In summary, useradd
is a more basic command that requires additional parameters for setting up a user account, while adduser
is a higher-level command that provides a more interactive and user-friendly experience. If you are working with a script or require portability across different Linux systems, useradd
might be the better choice. However, if you are a beginner or prefer a more interactive approach, adduser
could be more suitable.
Comparative Table: Adduser vs Useradd
The main differences between the adduser
and useradd
commands are as follows:
Feature | adduser | useradd |
---|---|---|
Purpose | Provides an interactive prompt for user creation, making it beginner-friendly | Provides complete control over the user creation process |
Home Directory | Automatically creates a home directory for the user | Does not create a home directory for the user unless specified with the -m option |
Syntax Complexity | Simpler syntax, making it more user-friendly | More complex syntax, requiring additional options for certain settings |
Portability | Less portable across different Linux systems | More portable across different Linux systems |
Usage | Suitable for regular users with standard presets | Suitable for advanced users and system administrators |
In summary, adduser
is a more user-friendly and interactive command for adding users with standard settings, while useradd
provides complete control over the user creation process and is more portable across different Linux systems. Both commands add user accounts to a Linux system, and adduser
serves as a front-end for useradd
.
- Consumer vs User
- LDAP vs AD
- User Mode vs Kernel Mode
- Manager vs Administrator
- Login vs Log On
- UNIX vs LINUX
- Administrator vs Executor
- Ubuntu vs Debian
- Ubuntu vs Linux
- Ubuntu vs Kubuntu
- UNIX vs Solaris
- ADD vs ADHD
- SSO vs LDAP
- Virtual Machine vs Server
- Workstation vs Server
- GUI vs Command Line
- Active Directory vs Domain
- Girl vs Woman
- Client vs Server Systems