# User roles

**URL:** <https://community.glideapps.com/t/user-roles/64512>\
**Category:** Ask for Help\
**Created:** [July 30, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/user-roles/64512 "2023-07-30T12:53:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Damien83](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/damien83/32/53299_2.png) [@Damien83](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Damien83)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/user-roles/64512/1 "2023-07-30T12:53:13Z")

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hello, I have a little trouble understanding the difference between private user / public user.

If I add a “role” column to my Users table, anyone with a role is a private user and anyone with an empty one is a public user?  
But both will have access to the application?  
The role just allows to give access or not to certain pages?

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**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/user-roles/64512/2 "2023-07-30T13:06:16Z")

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> [@Damien83](#):
>
> If I add a “role” column to my Users table, anyone with a role is a private user and anyone with an empty one is a public user?  
> But both will have access to the application?

It depends on your privacy settings. See below:

> [@Glide Privacy Flowchart](https://community.glideapps.com/t/glide-privacy-flowchart/60957):
>
> Configuring the Privacy Settings for your Glide App can sometimes be a little confusing, especially when it comes to understanding how each of the settings affect whether your Signed In Users are considered Public or Private. The below flow chart aims to demystify that somewhat. A couple of key points to understand and be aware of: If you choose Private Access, then all users will be Private. If you choose Public Access, then that doesn’t necessarily mean that all your Users will be Public. …

> [@Damien83](#):
>
> The role just allows to give access or not to certain pages?

Roles can be used in that way. But the best reason to use Roles is as row owners in other tables. Using roles as row owners allows for multiple users to “share” access to the same rows without having to create multiple row owner columns.