User Management
su
Switch user identity — run a shell as another user.
Synopsis
syntax
su [OPTION]... [USER]
Examples
Switch to root with login shell
su -
Switch to alice with her environment
su - alice
Run single command as root
su -c 'systemctl restart nginx' root
Common options
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| - | Login shell — load target user's environment |
| -c | Execute a single command |
| -s | Specify shell |
About su
The `su` command switch user identity — run a shell as another user. User management commands handle creation, modification, and deletion of user accounts and groups.
Multi-user access control is a core feature of Linux. These commands are essential for system administrators managing servers, enforcing security policies, and provisioning access for teams.
The command accepts 3 commonly used flags shown above, though the full set of options is available in the man page (`man su`). The 3 examples on this page cover typical real-world usage patterns that you can copy and adapt for your own workflows.
Related commands
More User Management Commands
Other commands in the User Management category