What a Linux root user can do - and 8 ways you should absolutely never use it

"Most modern Linux distributions now use sudo, which temporarily gives standard users administration rights. This approach is more secure because you're not logging in to the root user account and leaving it open. Also: The first 8 Linux commands every new user should learn In some instances, such as Ubuntu, the root user account is disabled by default to provide additional security."

"The root user can execute any command on a system. Root can also execute those commands with zero restrictions. This capability applies to both command-line and GUI tools. The root user also has unrestricted access to every file and folder on the system, regardless of permissions. The root user can access (read, write, delete) important directories, such as /etc/, /usr/bin, /usr/sbin/, /boot, and more. In addition, the root account can access users' home directories and all the data."

Modern Linux distributions prefer sudo to grant temporary administrative rights to standard users, reducing the need to log in as root. Some distributions, like Ubuntu, disable the root account by default, though it can be enabled by setting a password. The root account can execute any command without restrictions, operate GUI tools, and access every file and directory regardless of permissions. Root can modify system and user configurations, create and delete users, manage groups and ownership, install or remove applications, apply updates and patches, and manage system services. Because root has unrestricted power, use of the account requires extreme caution.

Read at ZDNET